Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Barely 24 hours after assuming office, the new Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has abolished the controversial 18-year admission benchmark for tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Dr Alausa made the pronouncement Tuesday at his maiden press briefing in Abuja.
His predecessor, Professor Tahir, introduced the policy amid public outcry as critics said it was retrogressive.
But the new Minister who was inaugurated on Monday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Tuesday, said the policy had been annulled.
He also hinted of that Nigeria’s education policy would be reviewed.
The Minister, however, said the Federal Government’s decision to void over 22,700 degree certificates obtained by Nigerians from some “fake” universities in neighbouring Togo and the Benin Republic, would not be reversed.
The Minister stated that practical education would help to address the unemployment situation in Nigeria, saying that tertiary institutions will not continue to churn out graduates every year without providing jobs for them.
He said the Federal Government would collaborate with private sector operators to train students and unleash their potentials.
Alausa added that universities of agriculture will be empowered to adopt commercial farming practices to combat food insecurity.
Some Nigerians believe that the controversial 18-year admission benchmark policy, was part of the reasons Tinubu fired the former Minister.
