The Federal Government is considering the introduction of assessment tests for Nigerians who obtain degrees from foreign institutions, particularly those in African countries, before their qualifications can be evaluated for mobilisation into the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the 37th meeting of the National Standing Committee (NSC) on Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications.
She said the proposed tests were necessary to ensure that foreign qualifications presented by Nigerians reflected genuine learning achievements and met the required academic standards.Olatunji-David noted that the measure was especially important given the rising number of Nigerians studying in foreign higher institutions, particularly in West Africa.
“We must ensure that the standard of education in Nigeria is not lowered by allowing all manner of foreign qualifications that are not recognised to be paraded by Nigerians without the corresponding learning achievement.“In as much as we want to encourage global socialisation, education, and the rest of them because the world is a global village now, but we want to maintain standard.
“We want to ensure that, yes, for every certificate given, they are earned, and they can produce people that can contribute positively to our national development.“I therefore invite this committee once again to consider, if necessary, an assessment test before such graduates are evaluated for NYSC,” she said.
She described the committee as central to efforts to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s education system by ensuring that only genuine and duly accredited foreign qualifications are recognised.Olatunji-David also expressed concern over the increasing cases of forgery of both Nigerian and foreign degree certificates, stating that the ministry was taking steps to address the problem.
She commended the committee for decisions taken at its previous meeting, describing them as important steps towards improving the evaluation and accreditation of foreign qualifications.The acting permanent secretary said the ministry had made progress in verifying the accreditation status of foreign institutions, issuing clearance letters for NYSC mobilisation, authenticating certificates, and granting no-objection letters.
The ministry also issues eligibility and proficiency letters to Nigerians travelling abroad for employment or further studies.She added that the evaluation of foreign certificates and authentication of Nigerian certificates had been automated and digitalised since the beginning of the year, making the process more seamless while boosting the ministry’s revenue.
Olatunji-David outlined five key issues for the committee’s deliberation, including guidelines for issuing no-objection letters required for registering proposed institutions with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and compliance by foreign-curriculum secondary schools operating in Nigeria with national education policy on public examinations.
She stressed that such schools must prepare students for examinations conducted by WAEC, NECO, NABTEB or NBAIS, as applicable, and that students must sit for at least one of these recognised examinations before graduating, regardless of where they plan to pursue higher education.
Other matters for consideration include the recognition of foreign secondary school qualifications such as the Higher School Diploma from the United States and Canada and Baccalaureate certificates from French schools, mechanisms for monitoring Nigerians studying in African institutions through institutional visits, and recognition of foreign regulatory bodies that transmit information on accredited institutions through diplomatic channels.
Earlier, the Director of Education Support Services in the ministry, Mr Gabriel Amudipe, said the committee’s work was critical to improving learning outcomes, institutional performance and quality assurance across the education sector.
He urged members to remain objective, fair and firm in their deliberations to ensure genuine qualifications are cleared while those that fall short of required standards are appropriately addressed.
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