•By Dave Agboola
The recent decision by the Minister of Education, Hon Tahir Mamman, to set the minimum age for taking the WAEC at 18 years is a move that could severely impact the education sector in Nigeria. This decision, intended to foster wisdom, may instead lead to despair.
Under the guise of progress, the new age policy has raised concerns about the future of education in Nigeria. By imposing strict age limits on exam candidates, WAEC has inadvertently created obstacles that hinder the academic progress and potential of students who may have started their educational journey later.
Statistics indicates that the average Nigerian student finishes secondary school at 16 years old. Requiring them to wait two more years before taking WAEC is not only impractical but also sets them up for failure. This policy’s repercussions are indeed severe.
It Is evident enough that this policy will disproportionately impact students from low-income families, who may lack access to resources such as private tutoring, internships, or financial assistance. This lack of resources will deepen existing socio-economic disparities, as wealthier students can access these opportunities to further their education or gain practical experience. Consequently, students from low-income backgrounds may face further marginalisation, widening the wealth gap.
Moreover, the Federal Government (FG) must understand that making students wait two years before sitting for WAEC.and its equivalent will lead to a loss of momentum and motivation. This can cause students to lose interest and disconnect from the education system, stifling their creativity and innovative thinking. It will result in limited exposure to varied perspectives, reduced hands-on learning opportunities, and ultimately hinder creativity and innovation. With limited chances to explore their passions and interests, students may struggle to develop the necessary skills to excel in a competitive global environment.
Furthermore, this policy could drive talented students to seek opportunities abroad, resulting in a brain drain that can impact the workforce, economic growth, and global competitiveness. In the same vein, losing skilled individuals may hinder Nigeria’s ability to compete globally, making it harder to attract international investments and partnerships. This could have long-term repercussions for the country’s development, slowing its progress compared to nations investing in superior education systems and drawing in top talents. Ultimately, this policy might backfire, leading to unintended consequences and hindering the nation’s growth and prosperity.
Additionally, the unnecessary delay could lead to age falsification and expose vulnerable teenagers to societal vices, heightening the risk of crime and social unrest. If this policy is enacted, we might face severe repercussions: millions of out-of-school children, escalating crime rates, growing school dropouts, and a cycle of poverty.
Like a ripe fruit, plucked from the tree of knowledge before its time, Nigeria’s youth potential could be stunted, left to rot in the scorching sun of idleness. The average student, barely 16, will be forced to languish, like a wildflower, untended and unwatered, for two long years, before being allowed to blossom, thereby impacting their growth!
While the government’s intentions are valid, perhaps setting JAMB’s minimum age at 18 would be wiser, especially judging from how most students at the age of 16 lack the emotional maturity to be on their own. This approach allows students to write WAEC at 16, providing a buffer period to prepare for adulthood while pursuing higher education. Otherwise, this policy will only exacerbate the problem.
The new education policy decision requires broader discourse with education stakeholders to safeguard Nigerian students’ well-being and development, critical for the nation’s future.
Let’s not endanger our children, but nurture them, like a gardener tends to her garden, with patience, love, and care. and guide them towards maturity, ensuring they write WAEC at 16 and prepare adequately for adult life.
We should be careful with sacrificing our children on the altar of bureaucratic folly. For if we do, the consequences will be more than critical. The streets will become a wilderness, teeming with lost souls, and the future, a desolate landscape, devoid of hope!
•Dave writes from Lagos State, Nigeria.
