Thursday’s 2024 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) coverage assembly in Abuja introduced out a rumbling however muted discourse that has been on the entrance burner. The Minister of Schooling, Professor Tahir Mamman, declared that henceforth, potential candidates for tertiary admissions should have attained the age of 18 years. Dismissing any deliberate resistance to his declaration, he categorically declared that the choice is a authorities coverage. Some individuals who attended the assembly informed me that the federal government’s try to alter the age restrict for tertiary admissions has at all times been a problem that was certain to reverberate throughout the nation.
Enjoying Secure
Amidst the growls brought on by Mamman’s disclosure that potential candidates for tertiary admissions should be 18 years, some on-line platforms carried stories that the training minister has reversed himself. With out an official assertion from the Federal Ministry of Schooling, it’s secure to state that the sooner report that affirmed the 18-year coverage for tertiary training nonetheless holds. Insisting that admission candidates for post-secondary establishments will now be 18 years, the brand new coverage is reflective of unrestrained tyranny below a democratic system that has refused to have interaction the general public for a closing determination.
Because the inception of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the official age restrict for admissions into universities and different tertiary colleges has at all times been mounted at 16. Not too long ago, with the emergence of personal universities and different tertiary colleges, there have been situations the place college students beneath the age of 16 have been provided admissions. JAMB below Professor Ishaq Oloyede has deserted its key position of advising the federal government on what to do to handle tertiary admissions.
Unsure Rhythm
When Oloyede requested the place the kids are working to, he appears to be fixated on the outdated observe the place college students obtained admitted into the college on the age of 25. There’s nothing improper for individuals to be admitted to tertiary training at 25, however do you now punish kids below 18 who’ve handed their JAMB exams by denying them the precise of getting admissions? Why is it that UTME outcomes expire yearly and usually are not prolonged for no less than three or 4 years? So long as it serves to convey income to the federal government, JAMB can proceed with the exploitation of poor residents on a yearly foundation. The reality is, the political elites are getting fearful on the rising thirst by youths for tertiary training. These public officers, who’ve relocated their youngsters overseas, are solely trying to cripple the academic prospects of children whose dad and mom and guardians can’t afford international training.
The 18-year restrict is lifeless on arrival because the weeks and months forward could result in protests over a coverage that should not be allowed to face. It’s fairly a misnomer that JAMB is simply fascinated about conducting exams yearly and incomes revenues with out standing up towards public officers decided to frustrate the dream by under-18 admission seekers. When the minister reportedly mentioned that the federal government was planning to offer expertise to secondary faculty graduates who’re but to achieve 18 years, I’m fast to ask:
What has occurred to the assorted talent acquisition programmes by the federal government?
Contemplating world greatest practices, Nigeria can’t stab itself by crippling the expansion of youths whose thirst for training stays unrivalled. If the system we function enthrones inefficiency by selling the outdated over the youth, our nation dangers a revolt from these youths if nothing is finished to cease the present development in muzzling them. These youths bear the desires of the long run that can both make or mar Nigeria.
Unnecessary Distraction
Towards the backdrop of opposition that greeted the end result of the assembly on the brand new age restrict by heads of tertiary colleges, going forward with the so-called coverage shouldn’t be solely anti-people, however is a deliberate ploy to cripple the training of Nigerian youths. Claiming that among the riots on campus are instigated by college students which might be beneath the age of 18 is outright twaddle. The age-long disagreements between the federal authorities and members of the Educational Workers Union of Universities (ASUU) have been the most important hindrances to concord in tertiary establishments. It’s for that reason that many dad and mom try to earn cash to save lots of their youngsters and wards from elongated research years as a consequence of shutdowns.
It’s not lifelike for the federal government to insist that the 18-year restrict is ready for implementation in 2025. I don’t even suppose that 5 years is even an sufficient interval. To deal with the matter, the federal government should carry alongside the individuals and persuade them of the desirability of the age restrict assessment. Thereafter, the matter may be tabled to the Nationwide Meeting for deliberation. Mamman gave himself an excessive amount of energy that he doesn’t have. Figuring out the destiny of lots of of 1000’s of our youths for tertiary admissions is past his powers.
Denying under-18 college students tertiary admissions shouldn’t be solely undemocratic, but in addition a transparent try at robbing poor residents, who’re presently dealing with worse instances of their lives, to pay the federal government that has at all times been a bottomless pit of corruption. Each the Nationwide Meeting should cease Mamman on his tracks. It’s time to advise to indicate a few of his ministers the exit door so as to avert ill-fated pronouncements linked to the train of their official duties. Nigerians are presently dealing with onerous instances, and the present rumbles over the age restrict for tertiary admissions is an pointless distraction.
