Ahead of Nigeria’s planned shift to computer-based testing for national examinations, an educationist, Ebenezer Mbamalu, has warned that many schools remain ill-equipped and systemic reforms are needed before full adoption. Speaking with The PUNCH on plans to implement CBT for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examinations by WAEC and NECO, Mbamalu, who is also the founder of Meclones College, Lagos, described the move as timely but premature. He said, “All over the world, nobody is still doing all these manual writes,” he said. “The problem we have here is that the government needs to partner with private schools to deliver quality education. Most schools are not properly equipped for CBT.” WAEC has repeatedly expressed readiness to conduct the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates fully on computers. The body said it has a new classification framework grouping schools into three categories to determine how candidates would be assigned to centres. However, uncertainty remains after the House of Representatives last year asked the Federal Ministry of Education and WAEC to suspend the implementation of CBT for the 2026 SSCE, scheduled to hold between April and June. Speaking, Mbamalu argued that CBT adoption, alongside strategic public-private collaboration, funding reforms, and age-appropriate policies, could improve educational outcomes, reduce malpractice, and prepare students for global standards. “WAEC stretches for one month. You cannot just compress that. CBT means that almost all the schools must be properly equipped. That is where government is supposed to come in,” Mbamalu said. “If you want quality education, technology and infrastructure must go together. The government must provide funding, partner with private schools, and remove the pressure from parents. Only then will Nigeria’s children have a fair chance to excel.” Mbamalu stressed that government collaboration with private schools is crucial to expanding access and ensuring quality. Related News SSCE 2026: No NIN, no exam, NIMC insists Idris invests N3bn in textbooks, rebuilds 500 schools NUC cracks down on indiscriminate honorary doctorate awards “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. Speaking with The PUNCH on plans to implement CBT for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examinations by WAEC and NECO, Mbamalu, who is also the founder of Meclones College, Lagos, described the move as timely but premature. He said, “All over the world, nobody is still doing all these manual writes,” he said. “The problem we have here is that the government needs to partner with private schools to deliver quality education. Most schools are not properly equipped for CBT.” WAEC has repeatedly expressed readiness to conduct the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates fully on computers. The body said it has a new classification framework grouping schools into three categories to determine how candidates would be assigned to centres. However, uncertainty remains after the House of Representatives last year asked the Federal Ministry of Education and WAEC to suspend the implementation of CBT for the 2026 SSCE, scheduled to hold between April and June. Speaking, Mbamalu argued that CBT adoption, alongside strategic public-private collaboration, funding reforms, and age-appropriate policies, could improve educational outcomes, reduce malpractice, and prepare students for global standards. “WAEC stretches for one month. You cannot just compress that. CBT means that almost all the schools must be properly equipped. That is where government is supposed to come in,” Mbamalu said. “If you want quality education, technology and infrastructure must go together. The government must provide funding, partner with private schools, and remove the pressure from parents. Only then will Nigeria’s children have a fair chance to excel.” Mbamalu stressed that government collaboration with private schools is crucial to expanding access and ensuring quality. Related News SSCE 2026: No NIN, no exam, NIMC insists Idris invests N3bn in textbooks, rebuilds 500 schools NUC cracks down on indiscriminate honorary doctorate awards “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. He said, “All over the world, nobody is still doing all these manual writes,” he said. “The problem we have here is that the government needs to partner with private schools to deliver quality education. Most schools are not properly equipped for CBT.” WAEC has repeatedly expressed readiness to conduct the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates fully on computers. The body said it has a new classification framework grouping schools into three categories to determine how candidates would be assigned to centres. However, uncertainty remains after the House of Representatives last year asked the Federal Ministry of Education and WAEC to suspend the implementation of CBT for the 2026 SSCE, scheduled to hold between April and June. Speaking, Mbamalu argued that CBT adoption, alongside strategic public-private collaboration, funding reforms, and age-appropriate policies, could improve educational outcomes, reduce malpractice, and prepare students for global standards. “WAEC stretches for one month. You cannot just compress that. CBT means that almost all the schools must be properly equipped. That is where government is supposed to come in,” Mbamalu said. “If you want quality education, technology and infrastructure must go together. The government must provide funding, partner with private schools, and remove the pressure from parents. Only then will Nigeria’s children have a fair chance to excel.” Mbamalu stressed that government collaboration with private schools is crucial to expanding access and ensuring quality. Related News SSCE 2026: No NIN, no exam, NIMC insists Idris invests N3bn in textbooks, rebuilds 500 schools NUC cracks down on indiscriminate honorary doctorate awards “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. WAEC has repeatedly expressed readiness to conduct the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates fully on computers. The body said it has a new classification framework grouping schools into three categories to determine how candidates would be assigned to centres. However, uncertainty remains after the House of Representatives last year asked the Federal Ministry of Education and WAEC to suspend the implementation of CBT for the 2026 SSCE, scheduled to hold between April and June. Speaking, Mbamalu argued that CBT adoption, alongside strategic public-private collaboration, funding reforms, and age-appropriate policies, could improve educational outcomes, reduce malpractice, and prepare students for global standards. “WAEC stretches for one month. You cannot just compress that. CBT means that almost all the schools must be properly equipped. That is where government is supposed to come in,” Mbamalu said. “If you want quality education, technology and infrastructure must go together. The government must provide funding, partner with private schools, and remove the pressure from parents. Only then will Nigeria’s children have a fair chance to excel.” Mbamalu stressed that government collaboration with private schools is crucial to expanding access and ensuring quality. Related News SSCE 2026: No NIN, no exam, NIMC insists Idris invests N3bn in textbooks, rebuilds 500 schools NUC cracks down on indiscriminate honorary doctorate awards “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. The body said it has a new classification framework grouping schools into three categories to determine how candidates would be assigned to centres. However, uncertainty remains after the House of Representatives last year asked the Federal Ministry of Education and WAEC to suspend the implementation of CBT for the 2026 SSCE, scheduled to hold between April and June. Speaking, Mbamalu argued that CBT adoption, alongside strategic public-private collaboration, funding reforms, and age-appropriate policies, could improve educational outcomes, reduce malpractice, and prepare students for global standards. “WAEC stretches for one month. You cannot just compress that. CBT means that almost all the schools must be properly equipped. That is where government is supposed to come in,” Mbamalu said. “If you want quality education, technology and infrastructure must go together. The government must provide funding, partner with private schools, and remove the pressure from parents. Only then will Nigeria’s children have a fair chance to excel.” Mbamalu stressed that government collaboration with private schools is crucial to expanding access and ensuring quality. Related News SSCE 2026: No NIN, no exam, NIMC insists Idris invests N3bn in textbooks, rebuilds 500 schools NUC cracks down on indiscriminate honorary doctorate awards “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. However, uncertainty remains after the House of Representatives last year asked the Federal Ministry of Education and WAEC to suspend the implementation of CBT for the 2026 SSCE, scheduled to hold between April and June. Speaking, Mbamalu argued that CBT adoption, alongside strategic public-private collaboration, funding reforms, and age-appropriate policies, could improve educational outcomes, reduce malpractice, and prepare students for global standards. “WAEC stretches for one month. You cannot just compress that. CBT means that almost all the schools must be properly equipped. That is where government is supposed to come in,” Mbamalu said. “If you want quality education, technology and infrastructure must go together. The government must provide funding, partner with private schools, and remove the pressure from parents. Only then will Nigeria’s children have a fair chance to excel.” Mbamalu stressed that government collaboration with private schools is crucial to expanding access and ensuring quality. Related News SSCE 2026: No NIN, no exam, NIMC insists Idris invests N3bn in textbooks, rebuilds 500 schools NUC cracks down on indiscriminate honorary doctorate awards “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. Speaking, Mbamalu argued that CBT adoption, alongside strategic public-private collaboration, funding reforms, and age-appropriate policies, could improve educational outcomes, reduce malpractice, and prepare students for global standards. “WAEC stretches for one month. You cannot just compress that. CBT means that almost all the schools must be properly equipped. That is where government is supposed to come in,” Mbamalu said. “If you want quality education, technology and infrastructure must go together. The government must provide funding, partner with private schools, and remove the pressure from parents. Only then will Nigeria’s children have a fair chance to excel.” Mbamalu stressed that government collaboration with private schools is crucial to expanding access and ensuring quality. Related News SSCE 2026: No NIN, no exam, NIMC insists Idris invests N3bn in textbooks, rebuilds 500 schools NUC cracks down on indiscriminate honorary doctorate awards “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. “WAEC stretches for one month. You cannot just compress that. CBT means that almost all the schools must be properly equipped. That is where government is supposed to come in,” Mbamalu said. “If you want quality education, technology and infrastructure must go together. The government must provide funding, partner with private schools, and remove the pressure from parents. Only then will Nigeria’s children have a fair chance to excel.” Mbamalu stressed that government collaboration with private schools is crucial to expanding access and ensuring quality. Related News SSCE 2026: No NIN, no exam, NIMC insists Idris invests N3bn in textbooks, rebuilds 500 schools NUC cracks down on indiscriminate honorary doctorate awards “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. “If you want quality education, technology and infrastructure must go together. The government must provide funding, partner with private schools, and remove the pressure from parents. Only then will Nigeria’s children have a fair chance to excel.” Mbamalu stressed that government collaboration with private schools is crucial to expanding access and ensuring quality. Related News SSCE 2026: No NIN, no exam, NIMC insists Idris invests N3bn in textbooks, rebuilds 500 schools NUC cracks down on indiscriminate honorary doctorate awards “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. Mbamalu stressed that government collaboration with private schools is crucial to expanding access and ensuring quality. Related News SSCE 2026: No NIN, no exam, NIMC insists Idris invests N3bn in textbooks, rebuilds 500 schools NUC cracks down on indiscriminate honorary doctorate awards “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. “The only way it will be done is one: government partnering with private schools. Believe me, the moment the government partners with private schools, all these children you see on the roads will disappear. There are private schools everywhere,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. Mbamalu also raised concerns over the 16-year minimum age policy for tertiary admission, saying it unfairly penalises fast-tracked students. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. “The child who is being punished is not the cause. The person pushing the child to school was the parent. The proprietor of the school also accepted the child. Yet the child is left at home facing trauma while the parents have saved money and the school owners have made their fees,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. He described the policy as “copy and paste and wicked,” noting it ignores students’ preparation and achievements. Comparing Nigeria to developed countries, he said that in the UK and other Western systems, age is strictly tracked from foundation stages, with acceleration allowed only when benchmarks are met. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. “Before your child enters primary school, he or she has to be at a particular age. Before college, he or she has to be a particular age. Everything works in tandem with government policy. That’s why a child graduating there is of the appropriate age,” Mbamalu said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. He also cited financial pressures as a key driver of early acceleration in schools. “The faster the child climbs, the cheaper it is for the parents. Some parents push their children because they are saving money — the child who suffers is the innocent party,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. According to him, public schools have been neglected, forcing parents to rely on expensive private institutions. “Over 80 per cent of civil servants are paying daily for school fees. It’s putting pressure on offices and creating corruption,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. Mbamalu urged the government to implement reforms across all levels of education. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said. “The foundation itself is faulty. Policies must start from the foundation classes. Set minimum ages for playgroup, primary, and secondary. Allow exceptional students only when there is proper evidence,” he said.
‘Schools not ready for 2026 computer-based SSCE exams’
