The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed strong disapproval of the federal government’s newly instituted age policy for secondary school leaving examinations.
As reported by Naija News, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced on Monday that the Nigerian government has set a minimum age of 18 for students to be eligible to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO).
The NUT has criticized this policy as outdated, arguing that it does not reflect the current economic realities that compel parents to enroll their children in school at a younger age. This early start, according to the NUT, naturally leads to earlier exposure to learning.
In an interview with The Punch, Dr. Mike Ene, Secretary-General of the NUT, stated that the policy would only be effective if it addresses the issue of early enrollment at the primary school level.
“The only way this policy could work is if it’s implemented from the foundation. By that, I mean starting at the primary school level. In the past, before a child was allowed to start school, they had to pass a basic test, like reaching their hand over their head to touch the opposite ear. If they couldn’t, they were sent back home,” Ene explained.
He noted that times have changed, and the government must adapt accordingly. “Nowadays, due to economic pressures, parents enroll their children in crèches early, which means both parents have to work. Teachers at these crèches begin to educate the children, and they start learning quickly. You can’t stop them from learning because the brain is structured to keep developing. Once learning stops, the brain stagnates.”
Ene also highlighted that the policy would negatively impact exceptional students who excel at a younger age. He described the policy as poorly conceived and likely to face legal challenges.
“You also have to consider exceptional students. Some students are 16 years old in SS3. Is the minister taking these scenarios into account? What are these students supposed to do? Wait two more years? I see this as a policy that could lead to numerous legal challenges. The government needs to rethink this thoroughly. It is poorly conceived,” he added.
