*Says 18yrs is out of step with global trends
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party, (NNPP), Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo on Saturday, urged the Federal Government to review its policy pegging the minimum age for candidates to write West Africa School Certificate Examinations (WASCE) at 18 years.
Ambassador Ajadi in a statement he personally signed, declared that the policy may delay the progress of millions of children who are already at Senior Secondary School, (SSS1) and (SSS2) and who are going to be at SSS 3 at ages below 18 years.
The NNPP chieftain in the statement, said until recently the age requirement for participating in the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) Tertiary Entrance Examination was 16 years, adding why the federal government just comes up hastily to alter the age requirements for the School Certificate Examinations.
Stressing that he agreed with many stakeholders in the education sector who view the decision as a regressive step that fails to consider the realities of modern education, Ambassador Ajadi said the government should maintain the minimum age for SSCE at 16 years, as has been the practice, saying, this is a more balanced and sustainable approach.
“The new age limit, rather than enhancing educational outcomes, risks stifling student progress and diminishing the quality of education in Nigeria. It allows academically ready students to progress to tertiary education without delay while ensuring those who need more time can take their steps gradually”, he said
Ambassador Ajadi added, “Setting the minimum age for SSCE at 18 years is out of step with the global trend towards encouraging early academic achievements.Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 educational system, which anticipates students finishing secondary school by age 18, does not account for the diverse academic paths students might take”,.
“Many students, particularly those who are gifted or started school early, complete secondary education well before turning 18.
Imposing an age limit would unfairly penalised these students, forcing them to wait unnecessarily, which is both a waste of time and an impediment to their academic and professional growth.
The NNPP Chieftain stressed ” Policy changes should not be hurriedly carried out. Moreso education is not on Exclusive List. It is on Concurrent List. Federal Government needs to contact and meet with the state governors before arriving at a policy changes on education”.
“We have state secondary schools aside the federal government schools. Moreso, the School Certificate Examinations being conducted by the West Africa Examinations Council, (WAEC) is not only for Nigerian students but for other west African countries. While must we peg the age at 18 years while other countries write at a lower age”.
