Restricting age limit of WASCE, UTME candidates to 18 years

Last Sunday, Education Minister, Tahir Mamman announced that the age limit of candidates taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) has henceforth been restricted to 18 years. This directive has been heavily criticised from various divides, calling on the Federal government to revert the order.

In this interview, a seasoned school administrator and the immediate past chairman of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, KOMOLAFE OLUWATOYIN advises the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration to consider the negative consequences of the policy, saying it is a northern agenda that can put the country on fire again despite the on-going hardship from the removal of fuel subsidy, menace of insecurity, among others.

How would you assess the recent directive of the Federal government on the enforcement of age limit of 18 years for JAMB and WASCE candidates?

As the immediate past chairman of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Obafemi Owode Local government and a former unit coordinator of NAPPS, Mowe-Ofada area, I found the government’s decision appalling and I weep for the future of Nigerian nation. Simply put, for us to move forward and for Tinubu government to retain its relevance among the comity of nations in Africa and the whole world, I am appealing to the government that the policy be reversed as it portends a great danger for the country.

Education is the bedrock of development in any nation and Nigeria is no exception, but it is very appalling and disappointing that our leaders are toiling with our educational system.

Permit me to remind you that the immediate former minister of education, having spent eight years suddenly realised that he had no experience in education, yet he was serving with that responsibility for eight years. That was after he has wasted the productive years, months and days that ASUU went on strike and he almost destroyed the education system. Talking about the current challenge, this is needless at a time like this. It’s a policy somersault.

You remember that a 13-year old girl is qualified to marry. You remember what happened in the Senate when a certain Senator and those who formulated policies defended that action under the religion. A girl child of 13 is qualified to marry and yet a girl of 16 cannot write WAEC, NECO or JAMB and yet cannot go to the university. We should be weeping for this country. I may be sounding sentimental but this is the fact. It is a Northern Agenda to bridge the educational gap between the south and the north. Well, the government, if they like may say that a child below the age of 18 shouldn’t enter the university, but what is the problem with WAEC and NECO? What will be the fate of millions of children in the SS3 currently and even those in SS2? If they want a policy like this, I think they should have gone deep down to start this from the primary section. To make the necessary structural adjustments from the primary schools instead of starting from the top. If you want to build a house, you can’t start from the rooftop, but the foundation. So I think it is high time Nigeria woke up from its slumber and get things right. I think we are in for a big trouble in this country.

What do you think may be the effects of this new educational policy on Nigeria as a whole?

One of the effects that will be so noticeable will be that the admission rate will be so scanty. Year one in most of the university classes will be empty, I can assure you. The universities will be scouting around for students to come in. To fill quota, they will put people they see there. All the people you see scoring high marks in JAMB, are they 20 years or 19 years? Just go and check?

What is your advice to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pertaining to this policy?

My advice to President Tinubu is that he should just think about it, because this policy will affect millions of homes and APC should just forget it, especially with the fuel scarcity affecting everyone. He should kindly tell the minister to wake up and reverse his decision, especially saying that the child that is less than 18 years cannot write WAEC, it is unheard of. Another reason why this policy needs to be reversed is because the people it will majorly affect are the same people he believes he has the most support from, the southern part of the country.

Why did you say the policy is a Northern Agenda? Can you substantiate your claim?

I have just said that a 13-year-old girl child is seen in some quarters as mature enough to get married. I equally mentioned our former Minister of Education who, having spent eight years, came out to say he knew nothing about education. Here again is another Northern man bringing this. What else do I need to substantiate that it could be another agenda to breach the educational gap between the south and the north? They are simply giving room for suspicion when they insist on enforcing a policy that is affecting certain parts of the country adversely. I have no regret for whatever I have said. Some people defended the then Senator’s action under religion. People rose to defend him then that a child’s age does not determine maturity and bringing all sort of disagreement to support him. So these are my reasons and my fears.