Only 108 of about 39,000 underage candidates who sat the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, have passed screening for possible admission into tertiary institutions.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving some of the examination’s best-performing candidates.
He said exceptionally young applicants must demonstrate academic ability as well as emotional and psychological readiness.
For underage candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions, a high UTME score alone is not enough.
They must also pass further assessments to qualify for an exemption from the minimum admission age of sixteen.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa explained the requirements while receiving the two highest-scoring candidates and six best-performing underage candidates in the 2026 UTME.
The candidates were presented by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Professor Segun Aina.
According to figures presented by JAMB, 2,244,149 candidates registered for the examination, while 2,174,396 sat it.
About 39,000 of those who took the examination were below sixteen.
Alausa said candidates seeking an age exemption first needed a minimum UTME score of 320 out of 400, equivalent to eighty per cent.
Although 391 underage candidates met that score, only 108 passed the subsequent assessments for possible admission.
The minister said the screening was intended to establish whether academically gifted children were also prepared for the demands of higher education.
The Federal Government says the policy seeks to protect children from the psychological strain and academic difficulties that could arise from entering tertiary institutions before they are ready.
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Editor: Ada Ononye
