By Cross Udoh
In a significant policy shift, the Federal Government has abolished the controversial 18-year age benchmark for admission into tertiary institutions across the country.
The announcement was made by the new Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, who also hinted at a broader review of Nigeria’s education policies in his administration.
The decision, which is expected to affect the admission process for thousands of prospective students, marks a significant change in the nation’s education system, and comes on the heels of several reforms aimed at addressing challenges in the sector.
Alausa, who spoke at his inaugural press briefing in Abuja yesterday, said the move to abolish the age limit was part of the government’s ongoing effort to ensure that the country’s educational system was more inclusive and flexible.
While he outlined the government’s plans to review broader educational policies, Alausa was firm in upholding the federal government’s decision to invalidate over 22,700 degree certificates acquired by Nigerians from so-called “fake” universities in the neighbouring Togo and Benin Republic. The crackdown on these dubious qualifications, he said, remained a top priority for the Ministry.
“There will be no reversal on the decision regarding the 22,700 certificates,” Alausa said, adding: “We are committed to safeguarding the integrity of our education system.”
The education minister’s remarks have sparked a wave of reactions, with many stakeholders in the education sector and beyond eagerly awaiting further details of the impending policy review.
While many have welcomed the scrapping of the age benchmark, concerns have remained over how such sweeping changes will be implemented across the country’s diverse educational institutions.
