- Alausa warned that institutions conducting admissions outside CAPS would face legal consequences for violating federal regulations.
- The minister said any breach of the admission age policy would be treated as a deliberate act of sabotage.
The federal government has officially fixed 16 years as the minimum age for admission into the nation’s tertiary institutions.
It also declared that any admission process carried out outside the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) would be considered illegal.
The minister of education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, made this known on Tuesday while declaring open the ongoing policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Abuja.
He warned that heads of institutions found culpable of breaching admission guidelines or engaging in fraudulent practices would be prosecuted.
“The age of 16 for admission into tertiary institutions is a policy of the federal government and it is not negotiable,” Alausa said.
He also emphasised that adherence to CAPS was critical to ensuring transparency and accountability in the admission process.
The minister stated that violators of the policy would not only face sanctions but would be prosecuted according to the law.
Further details are expected from the ongoing meeting.