Nigerian education stakeholders are debating the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, after he made a recent comment. Mamman said that in order to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and National Examination Council (NECO) exams, pupils had to turn eighteen years old. Strong reactions to this announcement have come from a variety of places, with some people doubting the decision’s reasoning.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Prominent lawyer and Labour Party chieftain Kenneth Okonkwo has been one of the most vocal critics of the new policy. In a post shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, Okonkwo described the Minister’s statement as “unfortunate and undesirable.” He revealed that the issue is personal to him, as he completed his secondary school education at the age of 15 and went on to achieve excellent grades.
“The policy of JAMB then was that every student must attain the age of 16 years before writing JAMB,” Okonkwo recalled, highlighting the contrast between the current proposal and past practices.
Okonkwo’s sentiment is shared by many educators and parents who argue that academic readiness should be the primary consideration for exam eligibility, rather than age. Dr. Adaku Nwachukwu, an education consultant, stated, “We should be focusing on ensuring that our students receive quality education and are adequately prepared for these exams. Setting an arbitrary age limit does not address the root issues in our education system.”
However, some have defended the Minister’s stance, citing the need to ensure that students are mature enough to handle the pressure and responsibility that comes with these crucial exams. “We have seen cases where young students struggle to cope with the stress and expectations,” said Mrs. Bisi Adegoke, a secondary school principal. “Allowing them more time to develop emotionally and mentally could be beneficial in the long run.”
As the debate rages on, many are calling for a more comprehensive review of Nigeria’s education policies. They argue that rather than implementing piecemeal changes, the government should focus on addressing systemic challenges such as underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of qualified teachers.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has also weighed in on the issue, with its President, Comrade Usman Barambu, demanding that the Minister provide a detailed justification for the proposed age requirement. “We will not accept policies that limit accessn without a clear and convincing rationale,” Barambu declared.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
