Age Restriction Education Policy in Nigeria: A Blessing or a Curse?

In Africa, among the Yorubas in the ancient times, there was the belief that a child could only be allowed to go to school when his hands grow long enough to pass across his head and touch his ears. This belief strictly governed whether or not the Yoruba child would start going to school. Similarly in recent times, asides the Yoruba tribe, other tribes of the world and families have prerequisites to consider before their offsprings start schooling. All these decisions are carefully considered in the child’s best interest. However, with the new Nigeria’s policy on the minimum age of 18 years, being a requirement to write external examinations in preparation for the tertiary institution, do we say it’s in the child’s best interest?

On Sunday 25th of August, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman in a interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics indicated that the Federal Government has resolved to enforce a policy that 18 years should be the minimum age a secondary school student would be allowed to sit for the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) before advancing to the tertiary institution. Prof. Mamman added that this was not a new policy and went on to say that the same minimum age of 18 years applies to candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). His words were:

“Even basically if you compute the number of years pupils, and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission. So, we are not coming up with new policy contrary to what some people are saying; we are just simply reminding people of what is existing”.

This pronouncement raises a lot of controversies, such as if one’s brilliance should be measured by his age, or if students who have double promotions for showing extra ability compared to their mates are not deserving of it. Also, if the performances of students in the past, below the age of 18 years, who sat and passed the external examinations were not impressive enough to consider a change of the ‘already existing’ policy as the minister of education stated.

Opposing the policy, the Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, Aare Afe Babalola mentioned that the age restriction was retrogressive and unacceptable, cautioning the government not disrupt the growth of the young ones who could provide possible solutions to the nation’s challenges by restricting their rapid educational advancement. He said:

“Having a minimum age of admission into the tertiary institution rule that allows for no exception is a problematic position that will in the long run affect the dreams of the younger generations”.

Although, the policy could benefit students who are not fast learners and need to repeat classes to be ready enough for the higher institutions, but it should not draw back their exceptional colleagues. After all, the policy has not been practiced in schools and the young ones have proven themselves worthy enough not to need such a policy.

In conclusion, whatever the intentions of the Federal Government may be for bringing up the age restriction policy on education, one can only hope that our leaders review the policy, considering the students this decision would affect. In my view, subjectively, one’s brilliance and level of education should not be measured by his or her age. What is your own view on this subject?