If not for the intervention of the British journalist, Flora Shaw, who coined the name ‘Nigeria’ in 1897, I think ‘Russia’ would have been a more appropriate name because Nigerians seem to forever be in a rush – and about everything too! You cannot be in an orderly queue for more than 5 minutes before somebody starts to complain, and like an orchestra that had been awaiting the conductor’s cue, ten others instantly join in, in a loud chorus. Or do we talk about how Lagos motorists in particular, speed senselessly, in a hurry to nowhere? Or how Nigerian passengers hurriedly remove their seatbelts, grab their bags and try to dart for the exit as soon as a plane lands on the tarmac? Okay, I think we’re doing better with this now but I’m sure you get the general idea. Nigerians have never been known for their patience. Something which others regard as a virtue is often interpreted here as being dull, not sharp, not smart.
With the exception of those classified as geniuses, I am one of those who not only supports this policy of 18 being the minimum age for tertiary education, but has touted it for several years. I have always frowned at the idea of rushing children through school in favour of allowing children to mature appropriately by ensuring age appropriate classes. Perhaps because of my educational background in the UK where age appropriate classes were the standard, I have always seen this as the better way to go. I just don’t think it’s advisable to have 9 year old children in the same class as 11 and 12 year olds. 12 year old discussions are not appropriate for a 9 year old child just as 16 year old discussions are not for a 13 year old. The same reason why TV programmes are rated 13, 16 and 18. I don’t see it just as an academic thing. The fact that the child can cope academically is not all that matters. Children should be allowed to experience the entire primary and secondary education which is 12 years. It allows them to mature physically and psychologically to both cope and derive the full benefits of tertiary education. It affords them the time to become more self assured too, which is crucial in an environment where they are left to their own devices to navigate.
In these days where the Federal Government and we too at EduTimes Africa are promoting technical and vocational training as a viable alternative pathway (something we started doing from inception almost 2 years ago and something which I advocated in my debut as an author over 8 years ago) it may be reasonable to say that a more mature student would be better equipped to know who he or she really is; be more acquainted with where his or her strength lies and what he or she is passionate about. In many cases, a child can change his mind regarding his future occupation multiple times between the ages of 16 and 18. It is my humble opinion that an 18 year old is positioned to make better informed decisions about his or her future career path. Let’s face it, even 18 year olds are coerced by their parents to do their bidding in the African setting, not to talk of a 16 year old. So, where you will seldom find parents who seek a 16 year old’s opinion when deciding on his career path, you will still find a number of parents willing to know their 18 year old child’s mindset, thereby making him part of the decision making and ensuring he takes ownership of this decision. The importance of this cannot be overemphasized.
Several arguments have been put forward that this university entrance age issue is actually a non issue in the grand scheme of things. Some ask why the Minister or government is not more concerned about the many graduates who roam the streets for years looking for non-existent jobs or even about the high out of school numbers. Why don’t they focus on those issues? All very salient points, I must say. I certainly cannot claim to have all the answers but to speak to the former, I think it may amount to us pointing out the speck in the eye of another when we have a whole log protruding out of ours, if we try to lay all the blame at the feet of the government. Of course, one cannot exonerate our governments, both national and subnational but let us also be honest with ourselves. How many of us allowed our children to freely choose their career path? How many gave their children the freedom to choose their degree course? How many encouraged their child to pursue a course in carpentry even when everything has always pointed to that being where his strength and passion lies? Afraid of condemnation or mockery, he subtly expressed the desire to become a luxury furniture maker. Did we listen? But when Ibukun Awosika – the first female Chairperson of First Bank Nigeria and founder of The Chair Centre which later became the SOKOA Chair Centre, following a celebrated merger with the French SOKOA S.A and Guaranty Trust Bank – delivers her highly inspirational speech, we are the first to rise up in giving her a standing ovation. The ovation rose to a fever pitch in 2020 when Mrs Awosika won the Forbes Woman Africa Chairperson Award and remained there when the Chemistry graduate became a member of Binance Global Advisory Board in 2022. Not bad for a furniture maker.
How many, may I ask, supported their child’s ambition to become the next big thing in fashion and sought out the best courses and schools that could make this happen? But now, cannot get enough of Mai Atafo’s bespoke suits. How many of our children in university are there only because that is what we want for them and not necessarily what they want for themselves? And why, may I also ask, did we not allow them to choose for themselves? I will put my neck on the line to say that in most cases, it’s because we think we know better. After all, how old are they? A classic case of wanting to have our cake and eat it, if I ever heard one. Then we wonder why they can neither secure a job nor better still, create one for themselves. Which, ironically, is what they had always wanted to do, if only we had given them the chance. If we truly want our children to live purposeful, happy and prosperous lives, then there must be a place for self actualisation. They must be allowed to hone their God given talents and fulfill their potential. For their lives to have true meaning, we must allow them to find their flow. By all means advise and guide, but in the end, let your child decide. It’s their future. Now the question we need to ask ourselves is this? Can we trust them to make the right choices at 16? If the answer is no, then what is it that convinces us that at age 16, they will possess the emotional strength to withstand peer pressure to belong at university? Which will almost certainly come. At this point it may be pertinent to mention that in the United States where students don’t commence college until the age of 17 or 18 but often older, they still enjoy the liberty at most colleges to wait until the end of the first year to choose their major, by which time, in the majority of cases, they would have been 19 years or older. Further buttressing the fact that age does play a significant part in helping one to know oneself and to make the right decisions about one’s future.
Lastly, I am not one who believes there is an ideal age for one to begin higher education. The best we can do is weigh the pros and the cons of this policy (which is not even a new one) and if the pros outweigh the cons, which I believe they do, then that should be the preferred way to go.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.