By Abiola Olawale
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the decision of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bar under 18 students from taking the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examinations, respectively.
Atiku, who took to his official Facebook handle on Wednesday, described the policy as a hindrance to educational opportunities and scholarships.
The New Diplomat reports that the Federal Government had recently placed a ban on individuals under 18 from participating in the WAEC and NECO exams.
This decision was announced by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
Reacting to the development, Atiku argued that the decision by the Federal Ministry of Education to set age limits for entry into tertiary institutions is unreasonable and discourages academic excellence.
He said: “It is unconstitutional for the federal government to impose such regulations on education, which should be the prerogative of state governments.”
Atiku further criticized what he called the federal government’s lack of provisions for specially gifted students, calling it an embarrassment to the nation’s intellectual community. He pointed out that instead of enforcing such restrictive measures, the government should focus on identifying and supporting talented students, regardless of their age, by providing them with scholarships.
