- Nigerian Presidential Candidate Critiques 18-Year Age Limit for NECO and WAEC Exams
Nigeria’s 2023 People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the Federal Government’s newly introduced 18-year age limit on Nigerian Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exams. The minister of education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced the decision during a recent appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics program.
The policy is faced with widespread criticism, with the Minister stating that the government has instructed NECO and WAEC to enforce the new age requirement for candidates taking these exams.
In response, Atiku wrote on his verified Facebook page, criticizing the decision as “absurd” and an “anti-scholarship” regulation. He urged universal condemnation for those who value intellectual freedom and accessibility.
“We are moving backward in time and rejecting the progress made by other countries by introducing such archaic policies like this one,” Atiku stated.
He also highlighted that under the Nigerian constitution, education is listed under concurrent powers, where sub-national governments have more authority over education than the Federal Government. Atiku argued that the effective global approach is to allow sub-national governments to establish their education laws or regulations.
The former Vice President of Nigeria expressed disappointment in the government for not having a plan to cater for talented students, stating that this neglects the intellectual freedom and accessibility which is crucial for education.
“Ironically, if the federal government does play a role in education, it should prioritize identifying and granting scholarships to exceptionally gifted students, regardless of age, before accepting them into tertiary institutions,” Atiku emphasized.
Atiku concluded, labeling the policy as belonging to “Stone Ages” and calling for its thorough condemnation by everyone who values education and intellectual freedom.
This bold move by the presidential hopeful has sparked intense debate in Nigeria about the country’s educational system and whether the federal government has the right to determine the age limit for NECO and WAEC exams.
