The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has taken steps to appeal a court ruling that overturned its minimum age requirement for university admissions. The board has requested a stay of execution on the ruling, which stated that the policy of admitting students aged 16 and above was unconstitutional. The court ordered JAMB to admit all qualified candidates regardless of age and prohibited age-related restrictions on admissions. The legal battle arose from a lawsuit filed by a lawyer who argued that the age restriction policy violated constitutional provisions on equal educational opportunities and discrimination. The court sided with the lawyer, declaring the policy null and void. The ruling overturned a directive by the former education minister setting the minimum admission age at 18, which was later changed to 16 by the succeeding minister. JAMB had allowed exceptionally bright candidates under 16 to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, but the policy required candidates to be at least 16 for admission.
JAMB challenges court order nullifying age restriction policy
