Way Forward after Certificate Judgement

I wholly concur with the precedent set by one judge that:

"A candidate must be educated up to secondary school level, that does not mean he must present the certificate"

Perhaps this point was covered in his brief and Nigerians need to gain a better understanding of this issue.

1. WAEC has its origins in academics and it is a universal aptitude examination or test that was once the standard for admission into post secondary institutions. Due to the indications of aptitude it provided it became the standard demanded by both schools and employers today. However Unlike in the past, WAEC is not the only aptitude test used today for admission into higher institutions and it is not a certificate in the true sense of the word.

2. Since the focus on WAEC statements secondary schools have abandoned issuance of Secondary School leaving Certificates at terminal conclusion of secondary education, primary schools also abandoned the practice and began issuing testimonials because the focused on common entrance scores submitted to the ministry of education and used to assign students to schools.

3. Just like the WAEC aptitude test and various other new aptitude tests like JAMB, primary schools have common entrance exams and other exams for federal schools and army schools etc; all aptitude examinations not certificates.

Future Steps

As with all things Nigeria’s dysfunction has permeated all aspects of life including education, our predilection for short cuts has made us abandon core procedures bequeathed is by the British, hence forth.

1. Primary and Secondary Schools, including JSS and SSS to need to return to issuing School leaving certificates on School letter-head indicating a student graduated from their institution and or certificates of attendance indicating where they terminated including class term for easy transferability.

2. School leaving certificates are distinct from aptitude testing and grades and schools may consider issuing a separate certificate indicating a students class position for all the semesters attended and final scores on graduating class exams distinct from WAEC.

3. Schools can also issue testimonials of character based on students involvement in school activities including sports played, school positions held and other achievements held.

4. Most importantly all certificates testimonials and aptitude certificates must be issued by the school before graduation, the habit of issuing statements or directing students to the ministry of education must end immediately.

Other Issues:

A question was posed asking “You need just a secondary school certificate to be president yet why are asking for Degree and NYSC Certs to get job”

Employers need to be very specific about the requirements they need for a job, the focus on academic aptitude testing is narrowly focused and should focus on whether an applicant has the aptitude for the job. It may be illegal to so openly discriminate based on academic aptitude testing.

The NYSC is a mandatory program for all Nigerian citizen graduates of particular higher institutions and a distinction may need to be made about whether it should be a requirement for a government job or any job altogether. No one can discount the obvious benefits of restrictions to ensure universal compliance but for how long can it sustain?

This question also presents another dilemma because as presently enacted the requirements for a job seemingly far exceed requirements for an elective position like a president.

The nation is faced with a new issue, should Nigerians mandate or require a post secondary degree at the minimum for elective office or maintain the minimum standard of a school leaving certificate, because technically a person is educated once they are literate to read and write.

By Terhemba Osuji