Just In : ASUU backs FG on 18 years university admission age

Just In : ASUU backs FG on 18 years university admission age

THE Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, on Monday, said the Federal Government is considering the adoption of 18 years as the entry age for admission into universities and other tertiary institutions of learning.

“It is not a question of being employed but how many will be admitted from this set. I think the figure overall on average is about 20 per cent; universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

“The question you ask is, where are the 80 per cent? They are our children, our wards living with us. This is why the issue of skills acquisition is important because any student who is not able to proceed to tertiary education should have a meaningful life, even after secondary school, or even primary education.

“The only solution to that is skills; by taking skills right from the time they are admitted into school, for the primary right through the educational trajectory. Somebody should finish with one skill or another. That is part of the assumption of the 6-3-3-4 educational system.

“It is assumed that by the time a student finishes up to the JSS level, he would have acquired some skills. If he did not proceed to the senior secondary level, he would have acquired some skills that would help him navigate life and cease to be a burden on his parents and society.

“That’s why skill is just the most important skill for us now that we are going to drive through the education sector for both public and private sector to empower the young ones.”

Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu, announced that the UTME was ongoing in Saudi Arabia, as a result of the standards set by JAMB’s management, noting that the examination had transcended to a high level of objectivity and reliability of results.

“Right from when the candidates arrive, they would be seated comfortably in the waiting room, screening and other necessary instructions will be given and they will proceed to do biometrics.

“There are some instructions that will be pushed that even if you are just coming into contact with a computer for the first time, provided you have been using the handset or smartphone, that will properly guide you to have access.

“One of the major things I see here, which is a major characteristic of online exams, is the speed. The speed in the centre is really excellent; pages are turned as at when candidates need them without any delay of booting.

“Also in the exam, there are lots of steps to prevent examination malpractice. Adjacent candidates will be taking different subjects and even when you are answering the same questions, the question numbers will be different from the next person’s question numbers.

“The standard of the exam is commendable. I am not surprised that JAMB is conducting exams in other countries. Right now, the exam is also going (on) in Saudi Arabia.

“I have not heard people complaining that answers leaked, it shows that with online exams, we can do a lot,” he said.