In a move aimed at curbing premature admissions to tertiary institutions, the Nigerian government has issued a directive stipulating that candidates below the age of 18 should not be admitted. 

The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, during a monitoring exercise of the ongoing 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory, on Monday.

Expressing concern over the pressure exerted by some parents on their underage children to secure admissions, Minister Mamman explained that the 18-year benchmark aligns with the 6-3-3-4 education system.

“The minimum age of entry into the university is 18, but we have seen students who are 15 or 16 years old going in for the entrance examination,” he remarked, urging parents to refrain from pushing their wards prematurely into higher education.

“We are going to look at this development because the candidates are too young to understand what the whole university education is all about,” he added.

Highlighting the significance of skill acquisition for those unable to gain admission, Mamman affirmed the ministry’s commitment to integrating skills training into the educational curriculum from the primary school level.

“Overall, it is 20 percent that can be admitted into the university, polytechnic, and colleges of education systems.

“So, where will the 80 percent go? That is why the issue of skill acquisition is very important.

“Any student who is unable to proceed to tertiary institutions should be able to have a meaningful life after primary and secondary school education, and the only solution to this is skill acquisition,” he said.

Corroborating the minister’s stance, the spokesperson for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Fabian Benjamin, reiterated that the age of 18 aligns with the educational framework.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, who was part of the monitoring team, lauded the conduct of the 2024 UTME, particularly applauding the introduction of online examinations to combat malpractices. Sununu attributed the reduction in exam malpractices to the adoption of computer-based testing (CBT) methods.

Despite the government’s rationale behind the new directive, it has sparked criticism from various quarters, with many viewing it as a setback to the increasing trend of younger individuals graduating from higher institutions. Concerns have been raised about the potential implications on the educational aspirations of prodigious youths below the age of 18.

Furthermore, education experts have warned that the directive has the potential to bring about significant consequences for the country’s educational sector.

Below are some of the noted potential implications of the new rule:

• One immediate consequence could be restricted access to higher education for academically gifted students who are below the age of 18. While the directive aims to ensure students are sufficiently mature before entering tertiary institutions, it might inadvertently hinder the progression of exceptionally bright students who are ready to pursue advanced studies at an earlier age.
• Furthermore, there is likely to be increased pressure on secondary education systems to adequately prepare students for tertiary studies by the age of 18. Schools may find themselves compelled to review and adjust their curricula and teaching methods to ensure students are both academically and emotionally prepared for higher education at the prescribed age.
• The delay in admission until the age of 18 could also have repercussions on graduation rates in tertiary institutions. Starting a university education later may prolong the duration of academic programs, potentially leading to delays in graduating and entering the workforce.
• Moreover, the emphasis on skill acquisition for students who do not proceed to tertiary education suggests a broader shift in educational priorities. There may be a heightened focus on vocational and technical training programs to equip students with practical skills for employment opportunities outside of traditional academic pathways.
• Implementing and enforcing the age requirement could necessitate additional administrative measures within tertiary institutions and regulatory bodies. Admission processes may need to be revised to verify the age of applicants, ensuring compliance with the new directive.

Argentina’s newly elected President, Javier Milei, has lauded his country’s achievement of its first quarterly budget surplus since 2008 as a historic milestone. 

Addressing the nation on Monday night via national television, Milei revealed that in the first quarter of 2024, Argentina recorded a budget surplus of approximately 275 billion pesos, equivalent to around $309 million at the official exchange rate. 

This surplus accounted for 0.2 percent of the country’s GDP.

“This is the first quarter with a financial surplus since 2008,” Milei proudly declared, taking a swipe at his left-wing predecessor, Cristina Kirchner’s initial year in office.

Milei, who assumed office in December, characterized the surplus as a remarkable global achievement. Emphasizing his economic ideology, the self-described “anarcho-capitalist” asserted that curbing inflation and achieving fiscal discipline were not magical feats but rather the result of prudent financial management.

The President’s victory in last November’s elections was fueled by promises to eliminate the deficit entirely, a goal more ambitious than the requirements set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with whom Argentina holds a $44 billion loan. To fulfill his pledge, Milei has implemented an austerity program, slashing subsidies for transportation fuel, and energy.

Despite Argentina grappling with annual inflation rates of 290 percent, a staggering 60 percent poverty rate, and a 20 percent decline in purchasing power for wage-earners, Milei remains resolute in his commitment to fiscal discipline. 

The austerity measures have led to thousands of public servants losing their jobs, reflecting the administration’s stance against public spending as a solution to economic woes.

However, the government’s cost-cutting measures have sparked protests, with university students, unions, and opposition parties organizing a march to denounce financing cuts to higher public education, research, and science. 

Universities have declared a budgetary emergency, citing stagnant funding levels amidst soaring inflation and energy costs. Ricardo Gelpi, the rector of the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), warned that without adequate funding, institutions could only sustain operations for a few more months.

However, positive signs of his austerity measures have been consistent. The South American country achieved its first monthly budget surplus in nearly 12 years in January. It recorded a positive balance for public-sector finances of US$589 million (approximately S$800 million) at the official exchange rate.

In addition to the removal of subsidies, the government made other major spending cuts.

Earlier this year, Presidential spokesman Manuel Adorni announced a government initiative to cut chauffeurs for public officials by 50%. Additionally, he revealed plans to sell two planes previously owned by the state-owned oil company YPF, citing their predominant use for what he described as “political privileges.”

“This is in addition to the reduction the government had already decided earlier this week […] We will continue to inform about the reduction of privileges every day,” he said. Adorni referred to the decision made earlier to decrease ministries by 50% and secretariats by 49%, aiming to curtail public spending.

These measures were expected to save nearly US$3 billion for the state.