NANS rejects the 18-year age limit for WAEC and NECO, warning that it could lead to increased cultism and societal vices among students.
The age limit of 18 years set by the federal government for students taking WASSCE and NECO exams has been criticized by NANS (National Association of Nigerian Students).
The policy was criticized by the student body, who expressed concern that it could lead to the emergence of “grown-up individuals” in universities and polytechnics nationwide, thereby exacerbating cultism and other illicit activities on campuses.
According to OBASANJONEWS, Prof. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education announced a new policy that would require students to be at least 18 years old before they can take the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) starting from 2025. The minister claimed that this directive was simply a reaffirmation of existing regulations regarding age requirements for taking exams.
During a workshop in Abeokuta, Ogun State called “Campaign against Social Vices,” Pedro Chibuzor, the President of NANS expressed his opinion that Nigeria’s education sector would not benefit from the policy.
He observed that the minister had neglected to consult with pertinent stakeholders before issuing such a statement and predicted that the supreme student organization would refuse to acknowledge this advancement.
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Chibuzor posed the question, “If someone is 18 years old and obtains A grades in nearly all subjects on their WAEC exam, but scores an F9 or E8 in English Language, must they wait until age 19 to retake it? This inquiry should be addressed by the Minister.”
Hence, the National Association of Nigerian Students opposes the aforementioned policy. Formulating policies requires extensive consultation and cannot be done arbitrarily.
I guarantee that the Nigerian educational sector’s best interests are not served by this decision. As I mentioned earlier regarding the presence of mature individuals in our universities and polytechnics, it also fuels cultism. We must be honest with ourselves about this matter.
In the past, specifically in 2000 or 2003, newspapers reported numerous cases of students being killed due to cult-related attacks. I won’t mention specific groups involved in these incidents but they were happening repeatedly. However, presently you can attest that such occurrences have significantly reduced though not entirely eradicated from our campuses. This does not necessarily mean that there are no longer any existing instances of cultism within educational institutions; it simply implies a noticeable decline in activity.”
The inquiry is whether the minister of education has identified any factors that have led to a decrease in cultism at our universities. Based on our organization’s limited research and consultations, I believe age may play a role.
“If you have a 25-year-old student in their first year on campus, they may be preoccupied with other matters. They could feel frustrated and envious of peers who have already graduated and found success. Unfortunately, this frustration can manifest itself negatively and harm society.”
The NANS President demanded the policy to be reversed at once and restated that the student community is committed to fighting against drug abuse, sexual misconduct, as well as other forms of immoral practices within campuses.
During his speech, the Clerk of Senate and Chief Host named Abdulyekinn Odunayo declared that the workshop titled “Empowering Youth by Breaking Social Vices Chains” was arranged to enlighten students on social vices risks while advocating for campuses’ secure learning ecosystems.
