The National Youth Alliance (NYA) is appalled, dismayed, and outraged by the Federal Government’s draconian decision to prohibit individuals under the age of 18 from sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) Senior Secondary Examination.

This egregious policy is a blatant declaration of war against the future generations of Nigeria, callously stifling their potential, and perpetuating a cycle of educational stagnation.

This ill-conceived decision is a display of the government’s chronic failure to prioritize education, its sheer incompetence in addressing the systemic rot in our educational institutions, and its utter disregard for the well-being and aspirations of Nigerian children.

By imposing this arbitrary age barrier, the Federal Government is effectively slamming the door shut on the dreams and ambitions of countless young Nigerians, condemning them to a life of unfulfilled potential and despair.

The Federal Government should instead emulate progressive countries like the United Kingdom, where students are allowed to take GCSE exams at the age of 16, and the United States, where there is no age restriction for students to take equivalent exams and gain post-secondary admissions, provided they have met the minimum academic requirements.

We demand that the Federal Government abandon this misguided policy and instead focus on revitalizing our moribund education system. The Federal Government should concentrate on addressing the pressing issues of inadequate infrastructure, woeful underfunding, and abysmal teacher training.

We call on education stakeholders to rise up in resistance against this draconian policy and reject this assault on the future. It is our collective responsibility to demand a better deal for Nigerian children.

Signed,

Hon. Muhammed Mustapha Lapai
Deputy National Publicity Secretary
National Youth Alliance
August 27, 2024

PRESS STATEMENT