FG Plans Assessment Tests for Foreign Graduates Before NYSC Mobilisation

The Federal Government of Nigeria is planning to introduce assessment tests for Nigerians with foreign university degrees, particularly from African countries, before they are mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). This move aims to prevent certificate fraud and protect academic standards. The proposal was presented at the 37th Meeting of the National Standing Committee on Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications in Abuja.

The Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Folake Olatunji-David, presented the proposal. She stated that international education must not come at the expense of acceptable academic standards. The ministry has automated and digitalised the evaluation of foreign qualifications and authentication of Nigerian certificates since the beginning of the year, improving transparency, efficiency and service delivery.

The National Standing Committee will also consider monitoring Nigerians studying in African institutions, recognising foreign regulatory bodies as reliable verification sources, and establishing equivalence guidelines for foreign secondary-school qualifications. The committee will review compliance with national education policies by foreign-curriculum schools operating in Nigeria and guidelines for issuing letters of no objection to proposed institutions.

The ministry reiterated its commitment to strengthening verification and regulatory measures to ensure that only genuine qualifications from recognised and accredited institutions receive official recognition. This move is expected to curb the issue of certificate fraud and ensure that Nigerian graduates meet the required academic standards.

The proposed assessment tests will help to verify the authenticity of certificates obtained from foreign institutions. This will also enable the government to monitor Nigerians studying abroad and prevent those with fake certificates from participating in the NYSC programme. The NYSC programme is a mandatory one-year service for Nigerian graduates.

The Federal Ministry of Education is taking steps to ensure that Nigerian graduates meet the required academic standards. The ministry is working to strengthen its verification and regulatory measures to prevent certificate fraud. This move is expected to have a positive impact on the quality of education in Nigeria.

The proposed assessment tests for foreign graduates are part of the government's efforts to reform the education sector. The government aims to ensure that Nigerian graduates are competitive and meet the required academic standards. The assessment tests will help to verify the authenticity of certificates and prevent certificate fraud.

Key points

• The proposed assessment tests aim to prevent certificate fraud and protect academic standards.