Human rights activist and former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its recent decision to ban the admission of candidates under the age of 18 into universities and other tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
This decision, announced by Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during the 2024 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Thursday, has sparked debate.
The minister stated that the new age restriction aligns with the 6-3-3-4 system of education and aims to streamline the admission process for tertiary education.
Senator Sani took to social media to express his disapproval, arguing that the policy undermines the potential of exceptionally gifted young Nigerians.
“Banning Under 18 from gaining admission into university is wrong. Some are born geniuses. Don’t waste their intellect,” Sani posted on his X account on Thursday.
The new policy will impact universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other higher education institutions.
In response to concerns about educational opportunities for younger students, the minister mentioned that the Ministry of Education is expanding skills training programs for primary school pupils who may not yet qualify for tertiary education.
In addition to the age restriction, Prof. Mamman announced the introduction of a new curriculum for secondary schools, set to be implemented nationwide by September 2024.
This curriculum reform, in development for the past year, is to address several persistent challenges in the education sector, including infrastructure deficits, unqualified teachers, and outdated teaching materials.
A stakeholders’ meeting is scheduled for August 6, 2024, to finalise the preparations for the new curriculum’s rollout in all public and private secondary schools.
