The new Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa has abolished the 18-year admission benchmark for tertiary institutions in the country.
He also hinted at the possibility of reviewing the nation’s education policy.
However, the minister stated that there would be no reversal of the Federal Government’s decision to void over 22,700 degree certificates obtained by Nigerians from some “fake” universities in neighbouring Togo and the Benin Republic.
Alausa spoke on Tuesday at his inaugural ministerial press conference, which is ongoing in Abuja.
He stated that practical education will help to address the unemployment situation in Nigeria, as tertiary institutions will not continue to churn out graduates every year without providing jobs for them.
He mentioned that the federal government will collaborate with private sector operators to train students and unleash their potential.
Alausa added that universities of agriculture will be empowered to adopt commercial farming practices to combat food insecurity.
Recall that the former Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman prohibited individuals under the age of 18 from taking part in the National Examinations Council and West African Examinations Council exams.
READ ALSO: FG enforces 18-year age limits for WAEC, NECO exams
This, he said was not a new policy.
He added that the age limit for candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, remains set at 18 years.
He said: “It is 18 (years). What we did at the meeting that we had with JAMB (in July) was to allow this year and for it to serve as a kind of notice for parents that this year, JAMB will admit students who are below that age but from next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age which is 18.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this is not a new policy; this is a policy that has been there for a long time.
“Even basically if you compute the number of years pupils, and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission.
“So, we are not coming up with new policy contrary to what some people are saying; we are just simply reminding people of what is existing.
“In any case, NECO and WAEC, henceforth will not be allowing underage children to write their examinations. In other words, if somebody has not spent the requisite number of years in that particular level of study, WAEC and NECO will not allow them to write the examination.”
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