Educationists have condemned some parents and school owners for excluding primary six classes, describing it as a violation of the country’s 6-3-3-4 academic system.
They made this submission at the Al-Azeemah Schools’ 10th-year graduation ceremony and the unveiling of its Junior Secondary School held in Magodo, Lagos.
Guest speaker, a scholar, Faculty of Law at the University of Ilorin, Prof. Abdulrazaq Alaro, noted that a lack of compliance with the 6-3-3-4 education system had fostered underage admissions in the country.
“The policy that we have adopted as a nation is 6-3-3-4, but the irony of this issue is that many parents think a child doesn’t have to remain until the end of the sixth year, which itself is a violation of our educational policy.
“We are appealing to parents that it is not how fast you move but how effective your movement is, and the idea of wanting your child to be at university at the age of 16,” he added.
The Chief Imam of Daaru Na’im Central Mosque, Sheikh Imran Abdulmajeed Eleha, also cautioned parents to stop allowing their children to skip primary six, emphasising that faith-based institutions should instill this belief in their students.
“In Islamic faith, our standard is to understand the Quran, and it is important that faith-based schools set the standard right for their students,” he said.
He added, “Parents are not wiser than the government that set the 6-3-3-4 academic system. The failure to allow children to complete basic education is affecting their performance at the tertiary level.
“I advise Nigerians and educators to align with the government’s policy on the education system.”
Director of Studies, Al-Azeemant Schools, Mrs Qudrah Jimoh, described the decade’s journey as fulfilling, saying the school was established to build scholars in both Islamic and Western education.
“It has been a journey of fulfillment, greatness, and success. We groom them to meet both Islamic and Western education standards.
“What we stand to gain is that we believe children are young and can assimilate a great deal. What we give to them is what they will bring out, as they are not dealing with any significant stress,” she said.
She also disclosed that the school will begin its Junior Secondary School classes at the start of the next term and that admission is now open.
“We are launching our college this year, starting with the junior college for ages 10-13 years,” she said.
One of the primary six graduates, Najeemah Bello, expressed her delight at completing her basic education and said she was preparing for the next phase of her academic journey.
The graduates were awarded first-leaving certificates, Arabic studies certificates, and Microsoft certificates.
