The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) says the Federal Government’s recent decision to restrict students under 18 from sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) exams is counterproductive.
NUT Secretary-General Dr. Mike Ene argued that societal changes, such as early enrollment in crèches due to economic pressures, make it unrealistic to impose strict age restrictions on education.
“The only way this policy could work is if it’s implemented from the foundation. Things have changed; due to economic pressures, parents enroll their children in crèches early, where they begin learning quickly. You can’t stop them from learning because the brain is structured to keep developing—once learning stops, the brain stagnates,” Dr Ene told Punch.
He added that the policy will put academically gifted young students at a disadvantage and potentially harmful to the educational system.
