The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has thrown its weight behind the Federal Government’s decision to peg the minimum age for candidates sitting for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination at 18 years.
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education, Mark Useni, said the decision might not be reversed. He disclosed that the committee had met with the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, to discuss the policy.
Useni said, “The Committees on Basic Education and Examination Boards took this matter to the leadership of the House of Representatives. The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, promptly appointed the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvere, to moderate a meeting between the two committees and the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman.”
According to Useni, the minister explained that the policy was developed before the adoption of the 6-3-3-4 system and has its roots in the Universal Basic Education Act. He also cited the example of military and paramilitary institutions, which place the entry age at 18 years, as well as the voting age in Nigeria.
Useni frowned on the situation where children not older than 12 “are being made to seek admission into universities.” He said, “While the policy is meant to ensure that children pursue their education alongside their cognitive and physical development and maturity, the Ministry of Education should develop a framework for proper transition into a full policy implementation.”
The committee has mandated the minister to work out ways of handling the policy based on available data and ensure that it does not jeopardise public interest. Useni added, “The Ministry of Education must ensure that students who are already progressing in the senior classes in secondary schools are not left stranded after completion of that level of education.”
