By Durojaye Abosede(SIWES Student (HCSBMS)
The House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has indicated that the recent decision by the Federal Government to set a minimum age for candidates taking the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) is likely to remain in effect.
In July, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced that starting in 2025, candidates under the age of 18 would not be allowed to sit for the SSCE, a requirement for admission into higher institutions of learning. This decision has sparked considerable debate among parents and educational stakeholders.
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education, Mark Useni, explained why the Federal Government is unlikely to reverse the decision.
He said, “The Committees on Basic Education and Examination Boards brought this issue before the leadership of the House of Representatives. The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, quickly assigned the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvere, to moderate a meeting between the two committees and the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.
The meeting took place on Wednesday, September 4, with the Minister, the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, and the heads of basic education examination bodies in attendance.
