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July 18, 2024
He, however, said that the Ministry of Education is extending skills training to primary school pupils who may not secure admission into tertiary institutions.
Human rights activist and former federal lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s government over a ban on admission of candidates who are under-18 into universities and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Senator Sani said that banning Nigerians under the age of 18 from gaining admission into tertiary institutions in the country is not only wrong but also a waste of the potential of young Nigerians who are born as geniuses.
“Banning Under 18 from gaining admission into university is wrong. Some are born geniuses. Don’t waste their intellect,” Sani said in a post on his X account on Thursday.
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The former lawmaker said this while reacting to reports that the Nigerian government on Thursday banned the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) from offering admission into tertiary institutions in the country to candidates under 18 years.
SaharaReporters earlier on Thursday reported that the Federal Government, through Nigeria's Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, declared the ban during the 2024 policy meeting of the JAMB.
The minister said that the 18-year benchmark is in line with the 6-3-3-4 system of education.
He, however, said that the Ministry of Education is extending skills training to primary school pupils who may not secure admission into tertiary institutions.
The policy will affect universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other higher institutions.
The minister announced that a newly developed curriculum will be implemented in secondary schools nationwide by September 2024.
This initiative, which has been in development for the past year, seeks to address several challenges in the education sector, including infrastructure deficits, unqualified teachers, and outdated curriculum.
In preparation for the rollout, a stakeholders' meeting has been scheduled for August 6, 2024, to finalize preparations for the implementation of the new curriculum in all public and private secondary schools.