The Federal Ministry of Training has clarified that the ministry has not stopped college students who’re less than 18 years outdated from writing the West Africa Senior College Certificates Examination (WASSCE) and the Nationwide Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
The Minister of State for Training, Dr Yusuf Sununu, clarified Abuja on Friday whereas fielding questions from journalists at an occasion to mark the 2024 Worldwide Literacy Day (ILD).
Sununu mentioned that the general public false impression and misinterpretation of what was mentioned by the Minister of Training, Prof. Tahir Mamman, was extremely disappointing.
He mentioned that the minister was really talking on the 18 years of entry age into the tertiary establishments as was practiced within the 6:3:3:4 system of training.
“We now have agreed that we’re going to think about it as a work-in-progress. The Nationwide Meeting is working and we’re additionally working.
“It was surprising to say {that a} college on this nation gave admission to youngsters at ages 10, 11 and 12 years. That is completely fallacious.
“We aren’t saying that there aren’t any exceptions, we all know we are able to have proficient college students which have the IQ of an grownup even at age 6 and seven, however these are only a few.
“There should be a rule, and the ministry is growing a suggestion on learn how to determine a proficient youngster, so that folks do not say we’re blocking their youngsters’s possibilities.
“No one mentioned no youngster will write WAEC, NECO or some other examination except at age 18. This can be a false impression and misrepresentation of what we have now mentioned,” he mentioned.
Talking on the Worldwide Literacy Day, Sununu underscored the crucial position of literacy in fostering mutual understanding, peace and socio-economic growth.
He reaffirmed the Federal Authorities’s dedication to addressing literacy challenges by means of the Training for Renewed Hope roadmap (2024-2027).
He highlighted youth and grownup literacy as key elements, whereas emphasising the significance of utilizing learners’ mom tongues as a medium of instruction.
“We should give attention to the position of a learner’s first language in changing into literate, which can foster mutual understanding and peace,” he added.
He additionally emphasised the necessity for well-trained educators who must be geared up to show in native languages, in addition to the event of follow-up studying supplies in these languages.
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On his half, the Government Secretary, Nationwide Fee for Mass Literacy, Grownup and Non-formal Training (NMEC), Prof. Simon Akpama, reaffirmed the Fee’s dedication to integrating multilingual training into faculties’ literacy programmes.
“In an more and more interconnected world, multilingual training is not only a necessity, it’s a instrument for fostering peace and cultural respect,” he mentioned.
In the meantime, UNESCO’s Nation Consultant, Mr Diallo Abdourahamane, re-echoed that literacy remained a elementary human proper, therefore the necessity to create a simply, peaceable and sustainable society.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) studies that the ILD which is widely known yearly on Sept. 8, is aimed toward highlighting the significance of literacy to people, communities and societies.
The theme for this yr’s celebration is “Selling Multilingual Training: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”
