Amidst growing concerns over the rush in students' education, the National Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (NPTAN) has voiced its support for the Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman's call to increase the tertiary education admission age limit to 18 years. In an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, the national president of NPTAN, emphasized the importance of collaboration between the government and examination bodies like WAEC, JAMB, and NECO to implement this proposal effectively.
Danjuma highlighted the adverse effects of enrolling underage children in tertiary education, stressing the need for students to undergo proper emotional and psychological development before pursuing higher education. He urged the government to mandate examination bodies to enforce age-based registration requirements rigorously, suggesting that the provision of National Identity Numbers (NINs) could aid in this process.
While Danjuma underscored the role of the government and examination bodies in implementing this policy, the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNUs) refrained from offering an immediate response, citing the absence of official communication from the Ministry of Education. Professor Yakubu Ochefu, the secretary general of the committee, stated that they would review the matter once official communication is received.
