Re: Age 16 JAMB Admission Benchmark

I write to make a passionate appeal to the authorities to reconsider a certain aspect concerning age 16 JAMB Admission Benchmark in Nigeria.

The policy is quite reasonable, but needs to be reviewed to accommodate candidates born between September 1 and December 31 of the same year, and attaining age 16 that equally scored high marks in JAMB to be considered.

I have a peculiar case, a candidate, who will clock 16 on December 30 this year scored 279 in JAMB in the following subjects: Maths, Physics, Chemistry and English, and made a minimum of credit passes in his WAEC Examinations result.

It will be very unfair on candidates whose dates of birth, that did well fall between September 1 and December 31.

Moreover, these students when writing their Common Entrance Examinations in schools by the Federal Government-owned universities, was informed that, any student that won’t attain age 10 by December 31 of that year should not sit for the exams.

This is an indication that the respective schools are preparing their successful candidates towards the age 16 admission benchmark. It will be very unfair on such students. And I hope the authorities would have a rethink.

The JAMB Registrar, Professor Isiak Oloyede and the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, should please look into this disturbing situation for a possible positive consideration for students in this category.

Thank you.

Kunle Yusuf, Ibadan.

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