The new policy introduced by Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, requiring students to be 18 years old before they sit for WAEC and NECO exams, has generated an uproar across the nation. While others see it as a needless procrastination in their educational journey, I think this policy is one of the vital steps needed to correct underlying problems in our socio-educational system.
My stance is obviously not a popular one but not without cogent reasons. One of the reasons I support this policy is that it focuses on skills acquisition before pupils attend college. In today's fast-paced job market, practical skills have become a necessity rather than a luxury.
The policy guarantees that students are not below 18 years of age when they finish secondary school so that they can participate in vocational training or internships, which can equip them with marketable and industry-relevant skills. It is through such early exposure to the world of work that aspiring undergraduates get a chance to build bridges between learning and earning, thus enabling them to enter their careers ahead of time.
Moreover, this policy has the potential to alleviate the financial burden on many students and their families. By acquiring skills before gaining admission to tertiary institutions, students can engage in part-time work or entrepreneurial ventures to cater to their needs. This financial independence can reduce the pressure on parents, particularly in low-income households, and foster a sense of responsibility and self-reliance among the youth.
The long-term benefits of this policy go beyond the students themselves. When skills are imparted to young people before they proceed to higher institutions of learning, the implication is that the nation is equipping and empowering a young and self-starting workforce.
Therefore, a projection should be made on the extent to which requiring such qualifications will lead to lower unemployment rates among college graduates. It is almost certain to be a positive one. The present reality is that many young Nigerians are qualified to work by virtue of their degrees and diplomas, but they do not have what it takes in terms of skills and practical competence. This initiative may change that reality. With this, it is, therefore, easy to see why this policy has my support.
In addition to supporting this policy, I want to urge the government to review the minimum age requirements for entry roles in Nigeria.
It’s contradictory to encourage skill acquisition and delay academic progression if the job market will not favour young people who are well into their twenties. In Nigeria today, the maximum age requirement for jobs is 26. If this policy will succeed and not sink young Nigerians, then a more flexible and inclusive approach to employment must be implemented, which recognises the value of skills over mere academic qualifications, complements the age 18 policy and maximises its impact.
It’s also worth noting that Nigeria is not alone in this approach. Finland has a successful system that stipulates that teenage secondary school leavers apply for an upper secondary school or a vocational school before they proceed to a tertiary institution. This has helped to a more diversified workforce and equipped youths long before they enter the job market as graduates.
This way, students are better prepared to meet the demands of the job market.
In sum, I find the policy of students attaining the age of 18 before sitting for WAEC and NECO exams an advantageous one. It acknowledges the need for a more holistic approach to education — one that values both academic knowledge and practical skills.
However, it is far from perfect. By addressing its apparent lapses, as discussed earlier, we can align our educational system with the realities of the modern job market. Nigeria will, in turn, be able to boast of a generation of skilled, self-reliant, and employable graduates who are better prepared to contribute to the country’s development.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not of the organisation TheRadar.
WAEC releases 2024 results, records worse performance than previous year
Previously, TheRadar reported that the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) indicated that the percentage of students who achieved credits or more in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, decreased to 72.12%, down from 79.81% in 2023 in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination.
The Head of the Nigerian National Office (HNO) of the council, Dr Amos Dangut, disclosed this during the announcement of the results for school candidates on Monday, August 12, in Lagos.
