NUT, ASUU On Different Stand As Government Ban Under 18 From WASSCE
Post created on 9:10 am
Controversies trail the new government policy banning under 18 from sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, WASSCE, National Examination Council, NECO, and JAMB.
The announcement by Prof. Tahir Mamman on Sunday was backed by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, but not by the Secretary-General of the National Union of Teachers, NUT, Dr Mike Ene, and other university stakeholders who strongly condemned the policy.
Ene laid his basis on early enrollment of children in creches due to the busy schedule of parents, and since learning cannot be restricted, it becomes unrealistic to stop children at that age.
He also cited the example of the hand crossing over the ear before a child starts primary school, and for such a policy to work, it has to start from the foundation.
Also, the National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Shammah Kpanja, cited cases of specially gifted children who might not need to spend many years in school, and such a policy would not be favorable to them.
He therefore advised the government to instead make favourable policies for all tiers of education rather than focus on what was not pressing on the nation.
Kpanja gave instances of underage children getting married in northern Nigeria, and no policy has been put in place to stop such; why is it bordering on education?