The Federal Government has announced the possibility of exempting exceptionally gifted students under the age of 18 from the minimum age requirement for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, during a visit to the Federal Government Academy in Suleja, commonly referred to as the National School for the Gifted, located in Abuja, on Thursday.
In response to questions about the potential age exemption for students at the academy, known for fostering gifted talent, the Minister stated, “It may not [apply], and we are going to develop criteria to define what we mean by gifted children.”
Prof. Mamman also announced a two-week extension for the resumption of students at the Federal Government Academy due to ongoing renovations.
Originally set for Sunday, September 8, the resumption has been postponed to September 18, provided there are no further delays.
He emphasized that students should not return to an environment that is not conducive to learning, as repair work on the school’s facilities is still in progress.
“We cannot have these young children here when there is work ongoing. The plumbing facilities, showers, water, and everything are a bit unstructured due to the ongoing work, so the facility needs to be ready,” the Minister stated.
Prof. Mamman expressed concerns over the current state of the school, pledging the government’s commitment to providing the necessary support to upgrade the institution to meet its purpose.
“This is the only school of its kind in the country where we are supposed to assemble students who demonstrate special attitude and capacity for special training,” Prof. Mamman said.
“What we have seen doesn’t really answer our expectations, but we are going to come in with massive support to elevate the school to the standard it should be,” he added.
(PoliticsNigeria)
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