The federal government has denied reports that it has implemented a new education policy restricting students under 18 from writing senior school certificate examinations or entering universities.

Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, clarified that the government has not stopped underage students from writing exams, contrary to public perception.

Sununu explained that the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman’s statement was misunderstood. Mamman’s statement was actually referring to the minimum entry age into tertiary institutions, which is 18 years, as provided for in the 6:3:3:4 system of education.

The Minister expressed disappointment with the public misunderstanding and emphasized that the new policy is still a work in progress. He noted that the National Assembly is working on the issue and the ministry is developing guidelines to identify talented children.

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Sununu stressed that there are exceptions for talented students with high IQs, but these cases are rare. He reassured that the government is not blocking opportunities for children, but rather seeking to establish a rule with guidelines for identifying exceptional cases.

In summary, the government has not implemented a policy restricting underage students from writing exams, and the new policy is still being developed.”