Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, a leading figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene against a controversial policy proposed by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman. The policy aims to ban students under 18 years of age from taking the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
Minister Tahir Mamman recently announced a new directive requiring candidates to be at least 18 years old before they can be admitted into tertiary institutions. He instructed examination bodies to enforce this age restriction, effectively barring younger students from taking their WAEC and NECO exams.
In a statement provided to Vanguard, APC chieftain Abayomi Nurain Mumuni criticized the proposed policy, asserting that it could have detrimental effects on students and the broader society. Mumuni argues that the restriction would reduce access to educational opportunities, increase dropout rates, and contribute to a host of social issues.
According to Mumuni, implementing the policy could delay students’ career aspirations and exacerbate anxiety and stress among young people. He emphasizes that the policy might inadvertently lead to increased social problems by limiting educational pathways and exacerbating existing challenges within the education system.
Mumuni has urged President Tinubu to prevent the policy’s implementation, suggesting that it may cause more harm than good. He believes that the policy’s potential drawbacks outweigh any intended benefits and could have long-term negative effects on the education sector and society.
The debate over this policy highlights ongoing tensions within Nigeria’s education system regarding access and age restrictions. As the situation unfolds, it will be crucial to monitor the responses from both government officials and educational stakeholders.
