•Ambassador Abayomi Mumuni
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Ambassador Abayomi Mumuni has enjoined President Bola Tinubu to stop the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman from banning students below the age of 18 from writing West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council, NECO.
Mumuni while speaking said that the decision to ban students below 18 years from writing WAEC and NECO will have negative consequences, reports Nigerian Tribune.
The APC chieftain made these declarations via a statement made available to journalists today.
Recall that Mamman had earlier said that candidates must be 18 years old before they are admitted into tertiary institutions.
He said that the examination bodies have been instructed not to allow underage children to write their examinations.
But, Mumuni in a statement signed by his Media Aide, Rasheed Abubakar, advised Tinubu to stop Mamman from implementing such policy.
He maintained that such policy when implemented will have many negative impacts on the students and society in general.
The APC chieftain while speaking, said that such policy if allowed to work will reduce access to education opportunities and increase the rate of school dropout and this will create more social problems in the society.
He said that such policy when implemented would also lead to delayed career aspirations and increase anxiety and stress among the youths.
Mumuni who spoke further then advised policymakers to balance educational standards with accessibility.
He maintained that the system will cause a setback to students who are going to be in SSS3 by next month because they have to wait for 3 years to write Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
He added that parents, guardians and students will now be pushed to go for age declaration and this will encourage falsification of documents.
He concluded that all students should be given opportunities to pursue their academic and professional goals without undue limitations or barriers.
Mumuni said, “I am appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to stop the Minister from implementing such obnoxious policy. It will cause more harms than the expected results.
“This policy will reduce access to educational opportunities. Restricting students under 18 from participating in WASSCE could hinder their progression in the education system, delaying their transition to higher education or vocational training.
“It will also increase school dropout rates. Young students who feel they are unable to take the examinations may lose motivation to continue their education, leading to increased dropout rates.
“Also, the policy will lead to delayed career aspirations. Students may face an extended period before they can enter tertiary education or vocational training, affecting their career prospects and long-term earning potential. If only older students are allowed to take the exams, there could be a bottleneck effect where older candidates face increased competition, making it harder to secure places in higher education.
“The policy when implemented will also have some psychological and Social effects on the students. The pressure of not being able to sit for exams can lead to feelings of inadequacy or stress among students, especially those who are academically inclined.
“Students in this age group may feel isolated from their peers who are able to take and pass the exams, impacting their social interactions and self-esteem. By restricting access to examinations, the government may inadvertently stifle the growth of a skilled workforce, ultimately affecting Nigeria’s economy in the long term.
“Such policies may exacerbate existing inequalities in education, particularly for disadvantaged students who may already struggle to access quality educational resources. Policies should consider the diverse educational contexts and the needs of students, allowing for more flexible age criteria based on academic readiness.
“Implementing support structures for young students, such as preparatory programs or alternative assessment methods, can help them succeed without rigid age restrictions.
“Overall, government policies that prevent students under the age of 18 from writing the WASSCE can have far-reaching negative effects on individuals and society. It is crucial for policymakers to balance educational standards with accessibility, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to pursue their academic and professional goals without undue limitations”.
