Newly appointed Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa has reversed the earlier decision of the Federal Government to allow only candidates of 18 years and above to access tertiary education in the country.
Alausa, who is a consultant nephrologist, disclosed this at his inaugural press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
The minister blamed the initial decision which pegged admissions into the country’s universities at 18 years of age on the way the National Policy on Education was designed.
He made it clear that the country would not be going forward with the 18-years admission benchmark, saying, “we will go for 16 years.”
He said his ministry would meet with JAMB and others on the issue, noting also that there would be exceptions for the gifted students. “Eighteen-years is not part of our policy again,” the minister reaffirmed.
On the withdrawal of certificates obtained from Benin Republic and Togo, Alausa stated that the policy would remain in place to help eliminate fake certificates from the system.