Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, has sparked debate by proposing a policy change to increase the minimum age for university and tertiary institution admissions in Nigeria from 16 to 18 years old. During his visit to the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination centres in Bwari, Mamman sparked controversy. His explanation centred around the Federal Government’s contemplation of setting the minimum age for university and institution admission at 18 years. This potential change is based on the belief that younger students are contributing to various issues within the system.
His declaration was that individuals who do not meet the updated age requirement lack the necessary maturity, are not suitable, and are incapable of handling their own matters. The minister spoke out against parents who he believed were pushing underage students to take the Exam against their will. He stated that the 18-year standard aligns with the Education policy’s 6-3-3-4 system. Although the minimum age requirement is 18, there have been instances of students as young as 15 or 16 taking the entrance exam.
ASUU has already given its endorsement to the age requirement.
Encouraging parents to refrain from exerting excessive pressure on their children is crucial. The primary cause of this issue often lies with the parents themselves. This trend warrants examination, as young candidates may lack a comprehensive understanding of university education. Additionally, it is suggested that some of these youthful students may be better suited to the familiar confines of their parents’ homes rather than the dynamic atmosphere of the university. However, many experts believe that these arguments are flawed. ASUU has already given its endorsement to the age requirement.
Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU, expressed his approval of the proposal, emphasizing the importance of regulators enforcing age limit laws already in place. The Nigerian Higher Education system faces numerous challenges that require immediate intervention, with setting an age limit for entry being possibly the least pressing concern. Dr. Ossai Edmund, an expert in the field of education, expressed his opinion that the proposal is regressive and should be dismissed entirely. In an interview, he expressed that students who are admitted to university at a young age of 15 or 16 are typically dedicated to their studies and do not pose any problems.
Nigerian universities are not performing well on a global scale.
Also, in his experience teaching at the university, he has noticed that the students are dedicated to their studies and exhibit innocence in their behaviour. The older generation is typically associated with drug use, alcohol consumption, and other violent acts. There is always a risk that the policy may not achieve its intended results. In Nigeria, parents will find ways to bypass the policy, as seen with the age restriction for entering Federal Government Colleges. Each university in the United Kingdom is responsible for managing its own admissions process. Mamman and other stakeholders argue that the focus should be on addressing the pressing issues in Nigeria’s education system, such as the 20.2 million children who are not attending school.
The Open University allows enrolment at 16 or younger, but Cambridge requires students to be 18 for certain courses like medicine. Tertiary institutions are struggling with outdated facilities and inadequate funding in today’s fast-paced world. Additionally, there is a shortage of lecturers. Regrettably, Nigerian universities are not performing well on a global scale. The University of Ibadan, the top-ranking university in Nigeria according to the 2023 Webometric ranking, is placed 14th in sub-Saharan Africa, 21st in Africa, and a disappointing 1,138th in the world.
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In comparison, Cairo University (521) and the University of Cape Town (237) are faring better in terms of impact, openness, and excellence. Younger graduates hold significant power in the job market even with the ongoing strikes and university shutdowns being so common. Their abilities surpass those of children from previous generations, enabling them to complete tasks at a quicker pace. They argued that the expectations in the education sector have evolved from those established in the 1980s and 1990s. Overall, their assertion is that continuous evaluation and enhancement of policies should be advised.