Niger's Consultative Council has suggested that only those with a university degree should be allowed to run in presidential elections。

　　Opposition groups have criticized the proposal, saying it excludes much of the population which is illiterate. "This is pure discrimination because only 20% of Nigeriens know how to read and write in French," said former MP Sabo Saidu。

　　The council said making it obligatory for presidential candidates to have a university degree would help bring Niger into the world of international business。

　　"Changes always have their advantages and setbacks. But in this specific case, Niger must endeavor to draft progress," said the council's spokesman Colonel Ibrahim Yacoub。

　　Other proposed changes include making it compulsory for parliamentary candidates to have at least secondary education. Candidates would also have to be under 70 years of age。

　　Nomadic children in the northern part of the country are often deprived of access to schools and the majority of the population of the Niger have little access to higher education。

　　据英国广播公司24日报道，尼日尔全国咨询委员会日前提出，要竞选尼日尔总统一职必须具备大学学历。

　　据称，该提案遭到反对派抵制，前议员萨博称此提议明显是要把全国大多数不识字的人民排除在外，“只有20%的尼日尔人知道如何用法语读书写字，所以这就是赤裸裸的歧视。”

　　而全国咨询委员会解释道，这样才能找到合适的领导人帮助尼日尔开展国际经贸合作，同时为本国(尼日尔是世界上最贫困的国家之一)寻求援助。

　　委员会发言人雅各布说道：“改变总有其优势，也会面临挫折，目前情况下尼日尔必须把此项政策推行下去。”

　　此外，委员会提议“议会候选人必须至少有中等教育水平”，且“年龄不得高于70岁”。

　　据了解，尼日尔北部游牧部落的儿童入学率很低，而全国接受高等教育的人聊聊无几。