Skip to main content

IELTS: Nigerians’ Call To Skip English Proficiency Test-UK Home Office Reacts

IELTS: UK Home Office reacts to Nigerians’ call to skip English proficiency test.



WITH over 60,000 signatures on a petition on change.org to stop foreign universities from requesting English proficiency tests from Nigerians, the UK Home Office says changes will not be implemented soon.

THE UK Home Office responded to a request by Ebenezar Wikina, founder of Policy Shapers, an open-source policy platform, which asked the Home Office to provide its criteria for exempting countries from taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Foreign universities demand the IELTS as a requirement for admitting international students.

While the IELTS tests are expensive, and fees more than double the minimum wage in Nigeria, the test results are valid only for two years.

“To be included on the Majority English Speaking Country (MESC) list, we must have evidence that most people in the country (more than half) speak English as a first language,” the UK Home Office said.

The UK Home Office does not officially recognise 27 Anglophone countries in Africa as English speaking countries.

However, the UK Home Office exempts citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Trinidad and Tobago, and 10 other countries from taking the test.

"We rely on publicly available evidence such as official censuses to make this determination along with other academic sources. We may also consult the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office where additional evidence is required.

“Currently, on the information available to us, Nigeria does not meet the requirement. This list is periodically reviewed and updated, and new countries are added if they are found to meet the requirements,” the letter read."

Speaking with The ICIR, Wikina said that the campaign would continue but stakeholders would meet to decide the next course of action to the UK Home Office response.


"Policy Shapers will be hosting a stakeholders strategy session next week to plan for next steps with the campaign and bringing together all parties concerned,” he said.

The #ReformIELTSPolicy campaign on Twitter, also initiated by Policy Shapers, received the endorsement of the Vice President of Nigeria Yem Osinbajo,
 who believes Nigerians deserve an exemption from the test as former British colonies.

Source:ICIR

Comments

Post a Comment

Type your comments here

Popular posts from this blog

The CBN Reverses Its Decision And Sets New Limit On New Naira Note Withdrawal

The Central Bank of Nigeria had initially stopped the withdrawal of the new Naira notes over the counter, directing commercial banks to instead dispense the cash through their Auto Teller Machines (ATM) to the public. Thursday, 2, February 2023, the apex bank has now backtracked on that decision, it is informing the commercial banks to resume over-the-counter withdrawal of the new N200, N500 and N1,000 notes. The Central Bank of Nigeria, has set a new directive of a maximum daily payout limit of N20,000, consisting of redesigned Naira notes, to each customer.  “In line with this resolve, the Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, has directed deposit money banks (DMBs) to commence the payment of the redesigned Naira notes over the counter, subject to a maximum daily payout limit of N20,000.  “We also admonish members of the public to embrace and adopt other payment channels for their transactions.  “The Naira is our legal tender and symbol of national pride. Therefore, let us resp...
11 comments
Read more

Kaduna, 2 Churches Attacked By Terrorist, 3 Persons Killed And 36 Abducted

In the early hours of Sunday, two churches, the Maranatha Baptist Church and the St. Moses Catholic Church, all in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State were stormed by suspected terrorists. According to the Vanguard News, a former Special Adviser on Media to the Governor of Kaduna State, Mr.Reuben Buhari said the attack on Roboh village, Kajuru LGA  where 36 people were kidnapped and 3 killed wasn’t the first attack. According to him, "attack) on rural communities by kidnappers have been going on without respite. Most go unannounced, unreported.” “The attack on Roboh village, Kajuru LGA today where 36 people were kidnapped and 3 killed wasn’t the first attack. On 5th January 2022, it was attacked and some kidnapped. On 27 April, 2020, the community was attacked again and this time some houses were burnt. Then the attack of today, 19 June, 2022.” He said because of the constant attacks on the community and surrounding ones, “the people in the village decided to start holdin...
3 comments
Read more

Na wa!

Na Wa is a Nigerian Statement Which Means Beyond Words!  Video - Uproar! Man Breaks, Vandalises Range Rover Of A Lady Says He Caught Her Cheating.  In  the video the man can be heard saying that he bought her the car. The lady inturn, storms out of a building and trys to confront the man for messing up her car. Watch video: Another video below; The video above and below has definitely gone viral.  Wow!
Post a Comment
Read more