A group, Concerned Parents and Educators (CPE), has pleaded with the Federal Government (FG) to review the age restrictions placed on candidates planning to write the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had said on a live television programme that the FG had decided to peg the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) age at 18.
This means that students under the age of 18 would no longer be allowed to write the examinations.
The group of parents under the auspice of CPE has now issued a statement, calling on the FG to rescind the decision.
They also said that the implementation of such a policy could have certain consequences on the youths and society at large.
According to the statement, signed by the CPE coordinator, Yinka Ogunde, the immediate implementation of the policy could lead to some students remaining idle.
“The government should realise that hundreds of thousands of students may find themselves idling on the streets for an extended period of two to three years, merely awaiting the chance to sit for an examination that could shape their futures,” the statement read.
“Implementing a structured system that considers age from the onset of a student’s academic journey would foster a more effective and fair educational environment. Such a system would prevent abrupt and disruptive changes at crucial academic stages, thereby supporting a smoother transition through the educational system.
“This decision highlights, once again, the arbitrary processes often employed in governmental decision-making, especially in matters that critically affect the future of our youth.
“We, hereby, plead with the minister to reconsider the current approach, and urge a thoughtful and comprehensive review of the potential impacts, and to engage in dialogue with stakeholders to devise a more balanced solution.
“We must ponder the societal impact of having a significant number of young individuals, potentially left without constructive activities, wandering the streets across the nation. This is not merely an educational concern but a social one that could have lasting repercussions.”
