The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the new 18-year age requirement for students taking the NECO and WAEC exams.
This was posted on Atiku Abubakar’s Facebook account on Wednesday, August 28th, 2024.
He described the policy as absurd and a hindrance to educational opportunities and scholarships.
The Federal Government recently imposed a ban on individuals under 18 from participating in the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams. This decision was announced by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
Mamman revealed that the government has instructed both WAEC and NECO to enforce this age restriction, affecting students who wish to take the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
Reacting to this, Atiku denounces the policy as outdated and counterproductive.
He urged those who value intellectual freedom and access to education to reject the policy.
“Tinubu’s age limit policy for tertiary education admission belongs in the Stone Ages,” Atiku stated.
He argued that the decision by the Federal Ministry of Education to set age limits for entry into tertiary institutions is not only unreasonable but also discourages academic excellence.
Atiku also emphasised that this policy contradicts the principles of federalism, where education is listed on the concurrent legislative list, allowing state governments to have a more significant role in educational matters than the federal government.
He continued, “It is unconstitutional for the federal government to impose such regulations on education, which should be the prerogative of state governments.”
Atiku further criticized the government’s lack of provisions for specially gifted students, calling it an embarrassment to the nation’s intellectual community. He pointed out that instead of enforcing such restrictive measures, the government should focus on identifying and supporting talented students, regardless of their age, by providing them with scholarships.
In conclusion, Atiku condemned the policy as a backward step, urging all Nigerians who value educational accessibility to oppose it.
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