By Emmanuel Edukugho

The legality and desirability of post-UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) screening seemed to be tearing apart major stake holders in the university system as senate committee on Education conducts investigation into the issue.

The senate is pushing for the screening to be scrapped as it passed a motion mandating its committee on education to investigate all universities conducting post-UTME test with the purpose of cancelling the exercise.

Senator Heineken Lokpobiri from Bayelsa State had raised the motion titled: “Illegal subjection of candidates to examinations by universities after Joint Admission and Matriculation Board examination.” The rationale behind this motion is to eliminate alleged exploitation of candidates seeking university admission who are compelled to pay prohibitive charge for the test.

Prof. Rufai, Prof. Oloyede and Prof. Ojerinde

Senator Uche Chukwumerije is the chairman of the committee saddled with the investigation to determine the desirability or otherwise of the post-UTME screening.

Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Chairman Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) otherwise known as committee of Vice-Chancellors, told the committee that although there are abuses in the screening conducted by universities, but these are being addressed by vice-chancellors.

Generating money

He stated that universities were not using the test to generate money rather, it was costing universities so much to conduct the examinations, and agreed with a suggestion that single payment be made for both JAMB and post-JAMB.

Oloyede said it was wrong to use Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to admit students into Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. That JAMB should go back to University Matriculation Examination (UME) for Universities and seperate entrance examinations for polytechnics and Colleges of Education as it was before 2009 when UTME was introduced.

He explained that screening by universities was to determine if prospective candidates were suitable for university education, and that the syllabus of universities were completely different from those of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

In his own presentation, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, Registrar of JAMB told the senate investigative committee that he could not understand why the same university dons who set JAMB questions are now questioning the credibility of the examinations.

He claimed that there are malpractices even in JAMB centres located inside universities, saying it was bad faith for vice-chancellors to now argue that post-UTME was to restore standard in university admission.

He told the committee that most universities charge over N5,000 for the post-UTME screening and at the end, the candidates won’t be admitted. Ojerinde submitted that the charge of N5,000 is too much of a burden for candidates to bear.

Professor Bello Salim, from whom Ojerinde took over as JAMB Registrar and was in office when the test was introduced, alleged that universities are to be blamed for the rot in the system.

According to Salim, if JAMB has failed, it is the same university lecturers and vice-chancellors who set and mark JAMB questions that have failed.

But taking almost divergent position, former Minister of Education, Prof. Chinwe Obaji said the inability of JAMB to condeuct credible examination led to the coming of post-UTME. She stated further that most candidates who scored high marks can not even write correct sentence or defend such scores. To her, the screening has become another means of making money.

Stating the position of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), its National President, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, in an advertorial, said that the provisions that gave JAMB powers to determine matriculation requirements in universities encroach upon the power of the university senate given to it by the statute of each university on all academic matters including admission to degree programmes.

That the Senate of each university has the power to administer further tests following JAMB examinations as part of the screening process for admission to degree programmes.

The post-JAMB tests are therefore justified. “The abuse of post-JAMB tests by turning them into a money-making mill is wrong. But this should not be confused with their legitimacy within the powers of senate and the autonomy of universities.”

The Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu Rufai, called for caution in the face-off between vice-chancellors and the senate.

Her words: “The post-UTME screening at least for now is something we should continue. We are pleading with the senators. I am happy that there will soon be a stakeholders’ forum and the outcome of it would determine the future. I feel that the issue of ensuring quality is one thing that we should always be interested in.”

Rufai believed each of the universities has a role in deciding who is actually admitted and it is very technical while also optimistic the senators are looking into this.

Prof. Isaac Adebayo Adeyemi, Vice-Chancellor, Bells University of Technology, in his own reaction on the post-UTME controversy, said each institution should interact with new intakes,know your students and they know you.

“Some universities use JAMB scores, SSSCE and post-UTME, find an average of the three criteria to determine admission. I plead with the senate not to just take a decision without the stakeholders-VCs, JAMB, NUC and they should work together to build an enduring system.”

Adeyemi added: “Let’s bring in the best. Let’s work out modalities and policies to ensure the best come out. I plead to allow post-UTME to stay, not to cancel it with a fiat. How can we achieve Vision 20:2020 without quality graduates?”

Also reacting while fielding questions at a media briefing, Prof Aize Obayan, Vice-Chancellor, Covenant University, said whatever the reason behind the intention of senate to abolish post-UTME, we should be careful.

“But universities will stick to standards, make sure that the best are admitted to help us ensure our mission. Quality of graduates equal to intakes. We must take it from entry level, so screening is important.”

Obayan noted that at Covenant University, not only good scores that determine admission, but also leadership potential is important. “Every University can carry out its own proess Government should look at quality, challenge of access. Quality and standard are very essential.”

JAMB is about fulfilling quality, universities must be allowed to set standards. If post-UTME stays, it should get the right standards.”

She said JAMB should ensure minimum standards are set, goals of post-UTME test known, what to look for, identify the conditions. Be transparent and open.

Our investigation showed that the idea of post-JAMB screening was mooted in 2005 when candidates come with outrageous scores that can not be defended, thereby denying genuine and honest students admission. Those who scored 300 and above could not cope after the first year and were asked to withdraw. It has been argued that some rich parents in collaboration with frandulent JAMB officials purchase high scores for their children to gain admission.

The screening is a viable way of checking examination malpractice, but unfortunately some universities have turned it to means of extorting money from students that they know, won’t be given admission because of low carrying capacity.