Sir: I have watched and waited with dismay to see how and when the sudden decision to earmark the age limit of entrants into the university and other tertiary institutions will take place. To my greatest shock, the JAMB registrar said that it is to begin this year.

Following that, the universities have started releasing the dates for their post UTME exam, with the accompanying conditions for eligibility which includes attainment of age 16 by October 2024. Very obnoxious and incredible! Are rules for a game changed in the middle of the game?

The question that JAMB has to answer is if the candidates did not fill their dates of birth in the JAMB form. They did that.

It is then, gross injustice to deny a successful candidate the opportunity to be admitted just because of his/her age when some older candidates failed in the same examination, showing that academic excellence at that stage, is not a function of age. It is generally known that admissions (merit and supplementary) are given from September to January of the following year. It is therefore not realistic to stipulate that only candidates who will be 16 by October be given admission. What will become of those who will clock 16 between November and January?

This SUDDEN policy is not in tandem with the university admission system and will put a good number of candidates at a disadvantage. One wonders what sparked off this sudden decision. Is there a threat somewhere?

Probably, we are copying from some countries as usual. While copying good things is okay, it is also important to do so carefully, considering our peculiarities; after all, such countries have had people like Yasha Asley (in United Kingdom) who started the university at the age of 12; also, the renowned Harvard university does not have any age limit for admission.

If we want to introduce age limit, it will be good to give a minimum of 10 or 12 years before implementation. This is to enable students who are already in the system at a younger age to be out of the system.

While that is ongoing, we should give an age limit for admission into the primary school (as obtains in the United Kingdom for instance) to ensure that the right age is attained at the last year in the secondary school for onward progress to tertiary institution.

This is more logical than what is being done presently. If what has been initiated is upheld, it means that the affected candidates, who passed the UTME, will have to lose their chances and start the struggle afresh; more so, a yawning and unnecessary gap will be created in their academic progress.

 It means that in the secondary and primary schools, the affected pupils will be forced to roam aimlessly after graduation. This is not morally and socially good for our present society. At a time when we are trying to guard our youths from social ills, rendering them idle will expose them to social deviants. This will not augur well for our society.

It is totally incongruous to have an age limit for admission only into the university while there is none for the lower levels of education. The resultant effect on the stakeholders typifies the proverb where one is led out with light into the dark and suddenly, the light is put off. Where does the affected person grope to? I therefore call on the powers concerned to reconsider their decision on the immediate implementation of the age limit policy as it will disjoint the progress of the young lives we are building.

 •Professor Joy Oluchi Uguru,

University of Nigeria, Nsukka