The Federal Government reafirms its decision to prohibit pupils under 18 from sitting for the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) starting from 2025.

Education Minister, Tahir Mamman, reaffirmed the stance during an Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing in Abuja, explaining that the policy was not new but rooted in the Universal Basic Education Act and the Minimum Standards Policy Act established in 1993.

Mamman criticized the growing trend of parents rushing their children through school, allowing them to skip crucial developmental stages.

He emphasized that the move aims to ensure that children follow the prescribed six-year primary, three-year junior secondary, and three-year senior secondary school structure.

The policy has generated significant backlash, but Mamman believes it will benefit the country in the long term. He assured that students who complete the prescribed educational process would be better equipped with both academic and vocational skills, making them more productive even if they do not pursue higher education.