The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has opposed the Federal Government’s recent policy establishing an 18-year minimum age requirement for students taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) exams.
NANS expressed concerns that this policy could lead to an influx of “overgrown” students in universities and polytechnics, potentially increasing the rate of cultism and other social vices.
The policy, announced by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, is set to take effect in 2025. The Minister described the age requirement as a reaffirmation of existing regulations aimed at improving the education system.
However, NANS President Pedro Chibuzor, speaking at a workshop titled “Campaign against Social Vices” in Abeokuta, Ogun State, criticized the policy, stating that it was not in the best interest of the Nigerian education sector and was implemented without proper consultation with stakeholders.
Chibuzor questioned the practicality of the policy, particularly in cases where a student achieves excellent results but fails in a key subject like English. “What if you are 18 years old and you write WAEC, and scored A in virtually all the subjects but in English Language, you got F9 or E8. Are you saying the person would have to wait till age 19 before he writes again?” he asked, urging the Minister to reconsider the policy.
He further argued that increasing the age of entry into tertiary institutions could lead to frustration among students, contributing to cultism and other negative behaviors. “When you have somebody who is 25 years old on campus in 100 Level, the person is also thinking about other things. He’s frustrated; he’s looking at his colleagues or age mates who have graduated and doing something better,” Chibuzor said.
NANS called for the immediate reversal of the policy, warning that it could reverse the gains made in reducing cultism on campuses. Chibuzor also reaffirmed the student body’s commitment to tackling issues like drug abuse, sexual harassment, and other social vices on campuses.
In his opening remarks at the event, Senate Clerk and Chief Host Abdulyekinn Odunayo emphasized the importance of the workshop’s theme, “Breaking the chains of social vices: Empowering the youth,” and the need to educate students on the dangers of social vices to promote a safe and healthy learning environment in schools.
