Monday Reuben, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticized the Federal Government's recent policy that sets an age limit of 18 years for entry into tertiary institutions. The policy, which also bars individuals under 18 from participating in key national exams like the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the National Examinations Council (NECO), and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), has sparked considerable debate across the country.
The policy was reiterated by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during a recent television interview, where he confirmed that the age limit for candidates taking the UTME, administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), remains at 18 years.
However, Atiku Abubakar took to his Facebook page on Wednesday to express his disapproval of the policy, describing it as "absurd" and a "disincentive to scholarship." He argued that the policy reflects a broader issue with the current administration's approach to governance, likening it to "a lost sailor on a high sea."
In his post, the former Vice President criticized the policy as being unconstitutional, noting that education is listed under the concurrent legislative list in Nigeria's Constitution, which means that both the federal and state governments share responsibility for it. Atiku argued that in a federal system like Nigeria's, sub-national governments should have more authority over education than the federal government.
"The policy runs foul of the notion of delineation of responsibilities in a federal system of government such as we are practicing," Atiku said. "It gives a graphic impression of how the Tinubu government behaves like a lost sailor on a high sea. Otherwise, how is such an anti-scholarship regulation the next logical step in the myriad of issues besetting our educational system?"
Atiku further emphasized that it is "extra-constitutional" for the federal government to impose such a regulation, likening it to a decree. He suggested that the best global practice would be to allow state governments to create their own laws or rules regarding education, rather than having the federal government impose a blanket policy.
The former Vice President also expressed disappointment in the government's lack of provisions for specially gifted students, labeling the policy as an embarrassment to the country's intellectual community. "It is discouraging that even while announcing this obnoxious policy, the government inadvertently said it had no plan to cater for specially gifted pupils," Atiku remarked. "That statement is an embarrassment to the body of intellectuals in the country because it portrays Nigeria as a country where gifted students are not appreciated."
Atiku argued that the federal government's role in education should be to establish mechanisms that identify and support gifted students, regardless of their age, and provide scholarships to help them pursue higher education.
He concluded his critique by stating, "This controversial policy belongs in the Stone Ages and should be roundly condemned by everyone who believes in intellectual freedom and accessibility."
The policy has sparked widespread debate among educators, parents, and policymakers, with many echoing Atiku's concerns about its potential impact on the nation's educational system and the future of its young scholars.
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