*Approves 16 years as entry age for tertiary institutions nationwide
*Says it will not go forward with 18 years admission benchmark proposed by JAMB
*That the way National Policy on Education was designed led to initial decision
*Promises to align education to needs of Nigerians, prioritise vocational education
By Ngozi Nwankwo
In a bid to align the education system to the needs of Nigerians, the Federal Government has reversed the controversial 18-year entry age for university education to 16 years.
The new minister of education, Dr. Morufu Alausa disclosed this while briefing journalists upon assuming office on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to him, what led to that initial decision was the way the National Policy on Education was designed.
”We will not be going forward with the 18-years admission benchmark. We will go for 16 years and we are going to meet with JAMB and others on that.
”There will also be exceptions for the gifted students. 18-years are not part of our policy again,” he said.
Alausa stated that the policy was detrimental to the federal government’s efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school children in the country and was not sustainable for the education sector.
While promising to study and review the newly established curriculum to reflect the needs of Nigeria, the Minister also disclosed the resolve to redirect focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM.
He said the Nigerian government would invest heavily on vocational skills to help students’ development skills for employability.
“We will get the private sector, artisans for vocational training. In fact, Nigeria education will invest heavily on vocational education,” said Alausa.
Reacting to out-of- School children, the Minister said the ministry has created a benchmark on how to tackle the challenge of Out-of-School Children.
According to him, the ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to provide conditional cash transfers as incentives for students to increase school enrollment.
He also mentioned that nutritional programmes would be introduced to support students’ health, thereby enhancing human capital development.
Alausa also said the withdrawal of certificates obtained from Benin Republic and Togo remains as it would help eliminate fake certificates from the system.
Speaking on finding a lasting solution to the struggles between Tertiary institutions unions and the federal government, the Minister assured that the federal government, under the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu will meet all the agreements with Tertiary institutions unions to end incessant strikes.