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Tag: Post-UTME

  • Post-UTME screening fee is N2,500

    The Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders in the tertiary education sub-sector have agreed on N2,500 as the fee for post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screening.

    A statement by Prof. Michael Faborode, the secretary-general, Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) yesterday in Abuja, said the agreement was reached after a deliberation of officials of the ministry, federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

    The secretary-general said it was agreed that the post-UTME screening should be sustained following the scrapping of the Computer-Based Test (CBT).

    “From the statement made by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan at the meeting, there is no objection to screening by universities as long as it is not another CBT.

    “She agreed that universities should advertise and the maximum fee charged for the screening should be N2,500 – bank charges inclusive.’’

    According to the statement, the association will formally convey its stance to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.

    Adamu’s announcement of the ban on post-UTME had raised anxiety among stakeholders.

  • Post-UTME exam cancellation, an error, says VC

    Post-UTME exam cancellation, an error, says VC

    The out-going Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife, Professor  Bamitale Omole has described the scrapping of post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) examination for students seeking admission into universities in the country as a monumental error.

    Omole said the government decision is inimical to the concept of quality education and the quality of students being admitted into tertiary institutions in the country. He said the post -UTME exam is a quality control measure put in place by the universities to select students that meet their standard.

    He said the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) conduct examination for candidates while the universities set their own standard which must be met by the applicants seeking admission. The scrapping of post-UTME is a great disservice to education of this country, he lamented.

    Omole who spoke at an interactive session with jreporters in Lagos, yesterday said: “The scrapping of post-UTME test is a monumental error that could be made by any government. It is uncalled for. It is inimical to the universities effort in selecting quality students for admission.  Every year, JAMB sends one million names to OAU for admission. We have space for only 5,000 fresh students.  How do we pick the best out of the one million candidates? We set our standard through post-UTME test”.

    On the allegation that he imposed his successor on the university community, the vice chancellor said it was not possible because “it is the responsibility of the University Council to appoint vice chancellor of which I am not a member; I was not a member of the search committee and the committee that shortlisted the applicants. The new vice chancellor went through the process of selection”.

    On his stewardship, Omole said during his tenure, OAU was ranked first and the best University in Nigeria and the eighth in Africa by Cybermetrics Labs, leading assessors in the global ranking of universities. He said this was made possible through massive infrastructural development and research activities facilitated by his administration.

     

     

  • Pros and Cons of post-UTME ban

    Pros and Cons of post-UTME ban

    The Federal Government’s abolition of the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) caught many institutions unawares.  Some had begun the process for the post-UTME when it was scrapped.  They are unsure of how to go about screening candidates.  But some parents are happy that they will no longer spend much on admission.  Others are perturbed about what the future holds.

    The post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) season should to have started but the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu’s directive that universities, polytechnics and colleges of education should stop conducting the screening seems to have slowed things down.

    Adamu argued during the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions into Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria held in Abuja on June 1, that he was confident in the ability of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) to conduct the UTME.  The post-UTME, he said, was a repetition of the UTME.

    Some, especially parents, welcomed the development; but others, particularly the institutions, see no justification for the action.

    Prof Peter Okebukola, who was the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC) when the post-UTME was introduced in 2004, said the minister did not cancel the post-UTME in its entirety.  According to Okebukola, he said there was no need for institutions to set the same test as JAMB.

    He stated in a mail to The Nation: “I have just received details of the meeting of Vice-Chancellors with the Minister of Education in which the press reported the Minister as announcing the cancellation of post-UTME. The correct position as reported by the Vice-Chancellors is that the Minister directed that universities should no longer conduct the same type of test as JAMB but are free to further subject candidates to screening to meet their local peculiarities.”

    Okebukola said he agreed that the post-UTME screening should be adjusted to test critical thinking and writing and oral skills of the candidates, which he said was the original plan.

    He noted: “The 2004 model had a screening component which was agreed with all vice-chancellors to be through oral interview and essay which JAMB assessment does not cover. More than ever before, we need to admit into our universities, secondary school leavers, from the large pool, those who have at least two characteristics: (a) attained minimum cognitive competence in the relevant subjects in the discipline they wish to study; and (b) competence in written and oral English, critical thinking and ability to present ideas in logical sequence befitting of undergraduates in Africa’s most-expansive and well-regarded university system.  JAMB’s UTME targets only the first characteristic; while the university-level screening should measure the second.”

     

    Institutions tread cautiously

    Institutions that have announced the start of their admission process have used the nomenclature ‘screening’ to replace the post-UTME.

    On its website, the Lagos State University (LASU) asked candidates to apply for the screening of 100-Level and direct-entry students.  Prospective students are to pay N5,000 and fill their data online for the ‘screening’ which would be ‘internal CBT’ (computer-based test).

    The website of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) still has details of post-UTME screening directives used for the 2015/2016 academic session.  Its Registrar, Dr Taiwo Ipaye, said the institution has not started the 2016/2017 admission process.

    She told The Nation that the institution was awaiting guidelines on how to conduct the examination from stakeholders before it would start screening candidates.

    “We will not do examination but we can screen.  They said that there would be a guideline so we are waiting for that guideline.  We have not started screening,” she said.

    The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Prof Oluwole  Morenikeji said universities were still studying the directive, adding that the Committee of Vice Chancellors (CVC) will make its position known soon.

    Morenikeji, who is in charge of admission in the university, said the directive would however not stop the institution from looking at candidates’ credentials before they are taken to guard against forgery.

    “People can fake almost anything in Nigeria now. So the fact that we have been directed to suspend post-UTME does not mean that we will not screen the credentials of the candidates seeking admission. That will be done because we will not allow anyone to use fake certificates to gain admission into the school,” he said.

    Public Relations Officer of the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB) Mrs Emi Alawode said the institution would not contravene the directive to conduct post-UTME screening.  She added that the scrapping of the post-UTME would not affect the institution’s ability to select students.

    “Initially there was no post-UTME and the university and students were admitted.  Likewise now, we will still admit students even without post-UTME,” she said.

    The Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, appears to be following the minister’s instruction.

    Its Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Bandele agreed that it duplicated JAMB’s efforts.

    He said: “What JAMB has done is excellent but they are not saying that universities cannot screen candidates. For example, JAMB has sent 10,000 prospective candidates to us but we need to screen their certificates.

    “Generating IGR should not be our priority even though we need money. We need to get good students to our universities, we now just screen them and scan their certificates.”

    At the Ibrahim Badamasi University in Lapai, Niger State, things are moving smoothly because the institution does not conduct post-UTME.

    The Deputy Registrar, Information and Corporate Affairs, Mr Baba Akote, said: “We don’t do post-UTME.  We only do online screening of results.  We cross check candidates’ O Level results with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO) as the case may be.  We have never done the post-UTME and with the Federal Government’s directive we have been vindicated.”

    Officials of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) and the Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic in Rivers State, refused to comment.  The Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) the university referred our reporter to its website.

    The website showed the university still admits students the old way. The registration for screening started on Monday and would end on July 1.

    The students are to pay N7,000 for the exercise (N1, 000 application fee, N4, 500 test fee, and N1, 500 for “computer demonstration exercise”.

    At the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), post-UTME screening will hold on Saturday as scheduled.  Candidates are to pay N10,200 for the exercise.

    The institution’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Tunde Olofintula, told The Nation that since the Federal Executive Council (FEC) ratified the post-UTME in 2003, it is in a position to reverse the decision.

    “I feel it is the prerogative of FEC to reverse that decision. As far as ABUAD is concerned, we are going ahead with our screening on Saturday 18th of June,” he said.

     

    Mixed feelings from parents

    Some parents are happy with the scrapping of the post-UTME because of the extra financial burden on them.

    Mrs Namonday Gofwen, a secondary school teacher in Plateau State, said since the post-UTME does not guarantee admission, then the extra financial cost is not worth it.

    “I am fully in support of the scrap because it is extra burden on parents. Now I have two of my sons that sat for the last UTME and one of them scored 200; the other scored 190.  Those scores are enough to guarantee their admission to any university in the country. So, subjecting them to another examination in form of post-UTME can be discouraging.  The post-UTME test is not free.  Parents have to cough out money for transportation and feeding for their children; have to pay for the test. This is extra burden on the parents and the candidates. JAMB should be left alone to do that please,” he said.

    Another parent, Ayuba Gana, described the post-UTME as exploitation, saying: “Another examination after passing that of JAMB is exploitation of candidates and their parents. I don’t want it. So if the minister decided to scrap it, I will be most happy.  It should be supported by all Nigerians.”

    A parent from Cross River State, Mr David Awak, said the post-UTME is more vulnerable to abuse than a centrally-conducted examination.

    He said: “It is in the best interest of the country that the programme was scrapped. It would have been a good thing but the universities started to abuse it. Those in charge of the examinations took advantage of the fact that they could easily be reached by those writing the examinations thus opening up a leeway for all manner of irregularities by way of paying for admission and so on. It is better that a central examination body, which is somewhat remote and more inaccessible, set the standard for admissions. It would be more dispassionate and more objective as no personal contact is involved.”

    A parent, Mrs. Dupe Ayegbusi,  described the post-UTME as a rip-off.

    “My son who scored high marks at UTME in the last two years has not succeeded to get admission despite writing post-UTME in three universities which charged between N5,000 and N10,000.

    “There is a serious economic problem in Nigeria and we civil servants are owed salaries and raising money for such a test is now a big challenge. I am happy that post-UTME has been cancelled,” she said.

    However, some parents still prefer the post-UTME despite the cost.

    Mrs Martha Ilemobade, a Lagos-based parent believes the post-UTME provides better integrity for the admission process.

    “I am not in support of scrapping post-UTME because if they do, only children of rich will enter UNILAG.  It will be very difficult for the child of the common man to enter UNILAG.  You will see the rich people will just be giving money and submitting names; then the children of the common man will come and there is no space.  I don’t support it.  Although it cost money, but God will provide for us,” she said.

    Mr Zamani Damwes, a resident of Jos, also wants the post-UTME retained, saying, “Some students register for JAMB through centres that will guarantee them pass mark to university. I mean some candidates and parents buy the JAMB scores. So the post-UTME will sort such candidates out.”

    A parent in Minna, Mallam Audu Ahmed is happy with the scrap because it is cost saving, but says it also has negative implications.

    With two of his children seeking admission, Ahmed said he had been concerned about the financial implication of the post-UTME, especially as one of them took the examination last year but not taken.  With the scrap, he expects to be spared the cost.  However, he is worried that it may affect the chances of qualified candidates getting admission because of the “man-know-man” syndrome.

    Though she benefited from the post-UTME, Eniola Johnson, a student of the University of Calabar, is not sure she would want the examination retained.

    “I would say that post-UTME helped me to gain admission.  I scored only 197 in the UTME and got 280 in the post-UTME. I am really talking with mixed feelings here because although it helped me, I think the process is being abused. Also it is very expensive. I mean after all the JAMB payment and stress, I still spent over N9, 000 for the post UTME, I think it is too much. Even though I was successful, I am sure there are lots of students who paid all that and still did not gain admission. Also there were lots of “sorting” and “man know man” as those who wrote the exams tried to reach those who could improve their scores. It has become a source of revenue for the school. I think it is good but they started abusing it,” she said.

    However, James Aniyeloye, is not confused about his preference for the scrapping of post-UTME,  accusing many universities of abusing the system and subjecting candidates to hardship.

    “I went to sit for post-UTME in a university before I got admission, the crowd management was poor and we were subjected to lots of hardship. We thought that we would conclude it in a day but we slept over in a place where we did not know anybody.

    “Transporters increased their fares while those selling food and other things exploited us. A student fainted in the course of struggling to pick tallies to serve as number. I am in full support of the stoppage of post-UTME”.

  • Post-UTME matters

    The latest news making rounds that the Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu, has scrapped the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has caused quite some ruckus.

    The second level screening was introduced in 2004 as a child of necessity when the integrity of the University Matriculations Examination (now Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME) had become questionable. Stories about paper leakages and widespread examination malpractices were rife in the pre-post-UTME era.  It was common to find candidates with high scores in the examination not able to defend it after being admitted because they had cheated.  It was also common to find low-scoring candidates with influence and money getting into school at the expense of better candidates.

    The introduction of the post-UTME screening checked all that.  Candidates needed to defend their UTME scores by also passing the university’s entrance test.  It gave more candidates a fairer chance to get admitted on merit than previously.  However, the post-UTME also became abused.  Most institutions charge at least five times higher than the N1,000 fee recommended by the National Universities Commission (NUC).  It did not also mean that only the best got in as a level of influence could also get students admitted if they met minimum standard.  Worse still, many candidates had to spend a lot of money on travelling expenses to institutions to take the examination, which further increased the cost and risks they had to bear.

    Since 2004, JAMB has indeed cleaned up its act and improved the conduct of the UTME.  The introduction of Computer Based Testing (CBT) nationwide two years ago further helped to improve the integrity of the examination, making people to question the need for a second screening again.  However, JAMB has not perfected the art of conducting a hitch free examination.  There were lapses during this year’s UTME, likewise last year, as a result of system failure which put a lot of candidates at a disadvantage.  So, JAMB presently does not yet engender 100 per cent confidence in the conduct of the UTME.

    However, beyond the integrity of the UTME, academics argue that institutions must have a say in how they select their students.  So, to them, the post-UTME is still in order.  The minister is yet to come out to deny scrapping the post-UTME.  But those who attended the policy meeting in Abuja have said he meant that institutions should not conduct examinations similar to JAMB’s but that they could perhaps conduct oral interviews testing other areas.  Whether that is what the minister meant or not, it really does make sense for tertiary institutions to conduct further screening tests that check suitability of candidates in other ways.  However, in doing so, they should care not to stress the candidates financially, physically, psychologically, and in any other way.  The screening should not be a means of generating revenue.  This is especially so as many institutions are highly oversubscribed and as a result, many candidates will not get it – not because they will not pass, but simply because there is no space to accommodate them.

  • The scrapping of post-UTME

    This, to me, is nothing but a most calamitous mistake, which poses danger and an irreversible adverse effect on the quality of education in this country.”

    This was the immediate reaction of Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), veteran lawyer and founder Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) to the scrapping of the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the pegging of the cut-off mark at 180 by the federal government last week. The move – as expected – has generated heated comments from stakeholders in the education sector.

    The decision to scrap the examination – which is considered controversial in some circles – was reached at the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions to Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria. Malam Adamu Adamu, the Minister of Education said since the federal government and stakeholders had confidence in the examinations conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), there was no need for other examinations to be conducted by universities.

    The present scenario has all the element of a catch-22 situation. In 2003, it was discovered by university administrators that many of the students admitted into Nigerian universities through JAMB were not only academically deficient; they could also not justify the high marks scored in JAMB examinations. They argued that they be allowed to conduct separate examinations – the post-UTME – to further test the ability and authenticity of the students they’re admitting.

    That same year, the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities held a crucial meeting after which they sent a recommendation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo calling for the scrapping of JAMB because they believed that the integrity of its examinations has been called to question. It appeared the recommendations went down well with the government hence post-UTME got official backing.

    There were reports in the past of how JAMB examination papers were being openly compromised and sold to students at examination centers, while some examination centers, dubbed “miracle centres,” were openly, but unofficially designed to guarantee high marks for some candidates who were unable to cope academically upon their being admitted to the universities.

    But like most policies in Nigeria, the post-UTME became another avenue for abuse as parents and students accused those concerned of selling admission slots to the highest bidders. Others argue that these examinations were not as transparent as the one conducted by JAMB. So, was this the reason the federal government scrapped the examination after a few years?

    “As far as I am concerned, the nation has confidence in what JAMB is doing, the universities should not be holding another examination and if the universities have any complaint against JAMB let them bring it and then we’ll address it,” Malam Adamu Adamu was quoted as saying.

    He argued that if JAMB is qualified enough to conduct tests then there will be no need to conduct another test for students to gain admission. The ministry expects that all candidates given admission must be from JAMB in conjunction with the universities concerned. Adamu also reminded the stakeholders that the criteria for admission was still in force, and asked the institutions to adhere to it. “Merit is 45%, catchment area 35% and educational development in less developed states 20%, this is for federal universities and for states universities, merit 40%, catchment 40 % and less developed local governments get 20%,’’ he said.

    On his part, Afe Babalola (SAN) argued that the introduction of post-UTME did not stop JAMB from performing its statutory functions, but the universities are free to conduct screening exercises, which include administering questions in relevant courses, for their would-be students. He believes that “The post-UTME had proved to be a veritable quality control measure, which I believed had been working and working well. For example, the first post-UTME we conducted at the University of Lagos, where I was then the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, yielded positive dividends.”

    To back up his argument, he recounted an incident when a student with a very impressive result, who applied to study Law, embarrassed himself. “Since English Literature was and still central to the admission of students to study Law, he was asked if he knew a novel called Things Fall Apart and he answered in the affirmative. We then asked him if he knew the author.

    “The hall was filled with consternation when the young man named the late Gen. Sanni Abacha as the author of Things Fall Apart. With the above scenario, it became crystal clear that Nigerian universities were no places candidates should come to with compromised and procured results.

    “This singular example underscores the place and import of the post-UTME, which is being touted as having been cancelled. As a result of the introduction of the post-UTME, the quantum of students who were asked to withdraw, because they could neither defend the high marks they were parading nor cope academically upon admission, dropped considerably.

    “Besides and in any event, those who were using JAMB to get jumbo marks also reduced, while JAMB and its results became more credible,” Babalola said. No doubt, stories like this abound, and most are credible.

    However, like I mentioned earlier, this is a catch-22 situation. We’re all aware that our public education sector has virtually collapsed and most of the products of this system leave much to be desired. At the same time, how can we be comfortable leaving a large chunk of the population to go through this failing system? That’s the dilemma.

    The post-UTME, I believe, was set up in good faith – to ensure that only those with the requisite academic qualification and ability gain admission into varsities. But again the “Nigerian factor” set in as some varsities saw it as an avenue for “revenue generation” and corrupt enrichment. Students are made to travel to where their preferred varsities are domiciled to sit for the examination putting a strain on the finances of parents from the bottom rung of the social strata.

    Most of the undergraduates I spoke with before writing this piece were favourably disposed to the scrapping of the post- UTME. One said the examination was a “loophole for corruption” that allows tertiary institution staff to admit preferred candidates by technically voiding the UTME scores. “I see the scrapping of this controversial examination as a boost to the anti-corruption fight in the education sector as it will end the generation of revenue that does not get to government coffers.”

    Another argued that the JAMB before the coming of the present Registrar, Professor Dibu Ojerinde “is different from the previous JAMB, we all know the state JAMB was in before Professor Ojerinde stepped in to revamp and reposition the place. Today, the confidence of the government is such that it was able to argue that there should be no need for Universities to conduct internal examinations to determine the fate of candidates seeking admissions because of the absolute confidence in JAMB. The Minister of Education also confirmed that JAMB has built a level of confidence in terms of conducting the UTME.”

    My take is this: policy somersault – especially in the education sector – is not often the best, at the same time, abuse of previous policies soon surfaces through a new policy like it did with the post-UTME. I have read, and heard, stories of admission racketeering cabals in our tertiary institutions. This notwithstanding, I call on the minister to explore avenues at having some checks in place where varsities can still be allowed to screen candidates before admission. We need this to ascertain the ability of students passing through our varsities.

    We also need to drive home the point that everybody does not have to go to a university before making a mark in the society. We should revive technical education and take a critical look – once again – at the dichotomy between Bachelor’s Degree/HND.

    Our problem is further compounded by the explosion of candidates seeking admission into varsities at home and abroad – especially public varsities. The reason for this is not farfetched as access to university education has become vital in Nigeria as  a  result  of  an  increase  in  the  varsity-age population and an awareness of the role university education plays in the  development  of  the  individual  as  well  as  the nation.

  • Afe Babalola condemns scrapping of Post-UTME Test

    Afe Babalola condemns scrapping of Post-UTME Test

    Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado EKITI (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola has condemned the Federal Government’s decision to scrap the Post-Universities Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) test.

    Speaking on the issue at the weekend, the legal luminary said he was shocked by the action, which he described as a “calamitous mistake, which poses danger and irreversible adverse effect on quality of education in Nigeria”.

    Babalola said he was taken aback that “such a far-reaching decision could be taken without due and adequate consideration for how the concept of the Post-UTME came into being”.

    The former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Council of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) said the concept of the Post-UTME test came into being in 2003 when it was discovered that “many of the students admitted into Nigerian universities through JAMB were not only academically deficient, but couldn’t justify the high marks they scored at JAMB examinations”.

    He spoke of cases where JAMB examination papers were being openly sold to students at examination centres while some examination centres dubbed miracle centres were openly but unofficially designed to guarantee high marks for some candidates.

    According to him, the most pathetic aspect of the saga was that it was later discovered that most of these students with such high marks were unable to cope academically upon their being admitted to the universities.

    Babalola said: “It was at this point of this national embarrassment that the Committee of Pro Chancellors of Nigerian Universities under my chairmanship, met in Abuja, x-rayed the cankerworm and recommended to former President Olusegun Obasanjo that JAMB should be scrapped because the integrity of its examinations has been called to question.

    “I must stress at this point that the introduction of Post-UTME was not decided by the Committee of Pro Chancellors of Nigerian Universities alone. The matter was thrown open with contributions from stakeholders and interested and concerned members of the different strata of the society.

    “However, government in its wisdom, decided to adopt a middle way approach to the matter by saying that JAMB should continue to be and conduct its business of qualifying examinations to tertiary institutions in Nigeria while Post-UTME should be introduced.

    “This translates to the fact that JAMB will be used as the basis for admission into Nigerian universities, but the universities are free to conduct screening exercises, which include administering questions in relevant courses, for their would-be students.

    “The Post-UTME had proved to be a veritable quality control measure, which I believed had been working and working well. For example, the first Post-UTME we conducted at the University of Lagos, where I was then the pro chancellor and chairman of council, yielded positive dividends.

    “There was this student, with a very impressive result, who applied to study Law. Since English Literature was and still central to the admission of students to study Law, he was asked if he knew a novel called “Things Fall Apart” and he answered in the affirmative. We then asked him if he knew the author. The hall was filled with consternation when the young man named the late General Sani Abacha as the author of Things Fall Apart.

    “With the above scenario, it became crystal clear that Nigerian universities are no places candidates should come to with compromised and procured results.”

    He added: “This singular example underscores the place and import of the Post-UTME, which is being touted as haven been cancelled! As a result of the introduction of the Post-UTME, the quantum of students who were asked to withdraw because they could neither defend the high marks they are parading nor cope academically upon admission, dropped considerably.

    “Besides and in any event, those who were using JAMB to get jumbo marks also reduced while JAMB and its results became more credible. With the innovative measures introduced by Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, JAMB’s helmsman, to re-invent the examination body, its results have become a lot more credible.

    “It must be emphasised that every university has the right to screen the candidates it wants to admit. It also has the right to embark on other exercises, whether written or unwritten, to make it and its products stand out.

    “For example, in the University of Oxford, any student applying to study Law, is mandatorily required to take the Law National Aptitude Test (LNAT), any student applying for Biomedical Sciences must take Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT), any student applying for Chemistry must take Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) while any one applying for Classics must take Classics Admission Test (CAT).

    “However, such universities should not set out to profit from such exercises as they are not money making ventures. Students should only be made to pay minimal fees to cover the cost of papers and other logistics like we do in our university, Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, where each student pays only N10,000 for the Post-UTME.”

  • Fed Govt orders universities, polytechnics to stop post-UTME test

    Fed Govt orders universities, polytechnics to stop post-UTME test

    The Federal Government yesterday scrapped the conduct of post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) for candidates seeking admission into higher institutions.

    The order takes immediate effect.

    Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu spoke yesterday in Abuja after declaring open the 2016 Combined Policy Meeting on Admissions to Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria.

    Adamu expressed confidence in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), adding that there was no need for other examination to be conducted by universities after JAMB.

    He said: “As far as I am concerned, the nation has confidence in what JAMB is doing. The universities should not be holding another examination and if the universities have any complaint against JAMB, let them bring it and then we address it.

    “If JAMB is qualified enough to conduct tests and they have conducted tests, then there will be no need to conduct another test for students to gain admission.”

    The minister also instructed the JAMB to stop extra charges on several categories of changes on admissions, such as the change of course, change of school and others.

    JAMB yesterday pegged the cut –off mark for admission for this year at 180.

    The 180 benchmark applies to all universities and higher institutions in the country, including polytechnics, colleges of education and others.

    JAMB’s Registrar and Chief Executive Officer Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, after a long debate with delegates from various institutions, told reporters that no institution would go below the 180 cut-off set by the board.

    He said: “180 is given. No institution will go below 180 this year and some universities can go above it. I know University of Ife will not go below 200 and University of Lagos will not go below 200 and also UI. All these ones stand but 180 as bench mark for others.

    “This year we have more than enough candidates, we have over 1.5 million candidates; so, we will get enough candidates to take in all the schools if they are serious. Re-distribution is already ongoing, because it is embedded in the registration procedure.”

  • FUTA’s best once failed post-UTME

    FUTA’s best once failed post-UTME

    Master Obakpolor Osakoplo Eki was the cynosure of all eyes as he walked to the podium to give his speech as the overall best student for the 2014/2015 academic session.

    Eki, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.84 in Physics, told the dignitaries including FUTA Chancellor, Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu; Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie; traditional rulers, Vice-Chancellors and his parents, Pastor and Mrs. Obakpolor Osakoplo that: “I failed my first Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife in Osun State in 2009.”

    But the 22-year-old quickly added that with determination, he was able to put aside his failure and prepare for another post-UTME at FUTA in 2010.

    Eki, who hails from Edo State, added that: “I believed that is not the end, no matter what you encounter you must stand tall and prove to the world that you can make a great impact.”

    Speaking with reporters on his performances during his primary and secondary schools’ days, Eki said he was also the best student during his secondary school days at Wisdom College Mowe, Ogun State.

    He also noted that it had always been his dream to study Physics, saying from childhood he has had a passion for the physical world and for the beauty in nature.

    Eki said his target is to become an innovative researcher.

    On his social life, Eki said he only played video games, listened to music and attended church activities, but he never joined any social club in the school.

    He, however, commended his parents Pastor and Mrs. Obakpolor Osakoplo for supporting him, spiritually, financially and morally.

     

  • UNIMED post-UTME test tomorrow

    The post-UTME screening of pioneer candidates into the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences has been scheduled for tomorrow.

    A statement from the university said the post-UTME screening would take place at the institution’s campus in Ondo town at 8.30am.

    “Over 3,000 candidates will sit for the screening that will usher in the pioneer set of students for the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, the first university that specialises in medical education in Nigeria,” the statement said.

  • Ado Poly reschedules post-UTME test

    The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, has rescheduled its post-UTME screening earlier scheduled to hold from today and Wednesday.

    A statement yesterday by the Polytechnic’s Deputy Registrar, Information, Ade Adeyemi-Adejolu, said the post-UTME will now begin from October 5 to October 9.

    The latest postponement, the statement said, was due chiefly to challenges experienced by many prospective candidates in possessing their e-transact PIN from banks.

    It said: “The rescheduling became imperative to enable a hitch-free preparation and successful conduct of the screening test.

    “We urge parents, guardians, and qualified candidates to note that the Computer-Based Test will now hold from October 5 to October 9 at the Polytechnic Digital Library.

    “Consequently, all interested candidates who are yet to complete their online application now have the opportunity to do so until midnight of Wednesday,  when the admission portal will be closed.”