Nigerian youths seek something similar: a place in the country’s many but not enough universities. They blame their woes on the introduction of a ‘burden’ called the post- UTME test. Prior to this time, JAMB was the only body responsible for conducting entrance examinations into the universities. But the system had limitations and was seen to be inefficient. Rather than solve the problem, the new system turned most institutions to a goldmine. Those that are denied admissions idle away by roaming the streets, thus becoming willing tools in the hands of the ‘haves’, who manipulate them to achieve their selfish ends. Head, Special Investigations, takes a look at the arguments for and against this system and the attendant problems associated with it
Obehi, a 27-year-old from Ekpoma in Edo State is a sad young man. He is not happy over his several attempts at writing the Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination (JAMB). He was momentarily lost thought as he sat, mumbling some inaudible words a few days back in front of his Orile-Agege residence to no one in particularly. When accosted, Obehi tried as he fought back tears to explain the reason for his sadness that morning. “My mates are all working now. They graduated some years back and are today ‘dashing’ me pocket money,” he said amid tears rolling down his cheeks.
He has every reason to feel that way. He believes that his ambition and dreams of becoming a medical doctor, which will in turn make him somebody in life is been threatened by JAMB. He has often being convinced of doing well in the examinations but end up not making the required cut-off marks that would guaranty his admission into his choice course and university. He is quick to blame his woes on some factors called admission discrepancies that go on in most Nigerian universities.
Obehi is not alone in this agony. Other youths around his age bracket, seek something similar: a place in the country’s many but not enough universities.
Prior to the establishment of JAMB in 1978, each university was responsible for the conduct of its own concessional examination and admitted its own students. But the system had limitations and was seen by many as inefficient. The committee of Vice-Chancellors was concerned about this problem. Consequently, the government set up a National Committee on University Entrance Examination under the Chairmanship of M. S. Angulu, which recommended setting up JAMB.
Until a few years ago, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was enough to get candidates a place in their first choice university. But not anymore; unlike Obehi however, most candidates today are blaming the same Committee of Vice Chancellors, which has in turn influenced the introduction of a new “burden” called the post-UTME test. Rather than solve the problems associated with JAMB, the new system turned most institutions to a goldmine, while those that are yearly denied admissions idle away by roaming the streets. They often fall into the hands of the ‘haves’ in the society, who manipulate them to achieve their selfish ends.
‘Less than half of candidates scale Post-UTME test’
According to Toyin Ayinla, who passed through the new system, “I don’t like the process of the Post-UTME screening; it is stressful to purchase the form from the institution of choice and also to travel to the institutions for the examination. If it can be abolished, fine, but if not, the university authorities should soft-pedal on their screening criteria.”
There are others who have noted several other challenges confronting prospective students in scaling through the post-JAMB huddle and obtaining the required cut-off mark of a particular university for admission. The huddles include but not limited to students’ collaboration with their parents to cheat. They do this by proxy arrangements and payment of huge sums of money to universities officials, who aid them in the act. It is believed that the issue of post-JAMB has made a lot of people lose hope of going to a higher institution. It has equally forced some to leave the country, while others opt for the private institutions, with other categories having had to go for pre-degree, diploma, and sandwich programmes as a means of entering the higher institutions. A lot of people claim to read extra-ordinarily for this examination, yet they fail, while others are believed not to put as much effort but get good marks.
Echoing the sentiments of prospective students, a former registrar of JAMB, Professor Salim Bello, does not believe the post-UTME test is the answer to whatever lapses the UTME has. Salim, who was registrar of the matriculation body when the screening was introduced, said there were more malpractices in the universities than outside of them.
But, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Uyo Branch, like in the other universities, believe the post-UTME screening test should stay. Its Chairman, Nwachukwu Anyim, argue that since universities operate as autonomous institutions, their senates had the right to regulate the admission of students. According to him, “based on the autonomy of universities, the different universities’ senate has the power to regulate the admission of students, without prejudice to the policies of JAMB.” Anyim, however, said the union was against any form of exploitation of candidates through the screening.
The House of Representatives has only recently raised the alarm over alleged flagrant disregard to the Federal Government’s directive on JAMB’s cut-off mark for federal universities. It urged the Federal Ministry of Education to urgently call the defaulting institutions to order so as not to deny innocent candidates, who met the government approved cut-off points the opportunity to write post-UTME examinations, which are currently being conducted across the nation.
To this end, the House mandated the House Committee on Education to have an interface with both the Ministry of Education and the authorities of federal universities and allied institutions, with regards to ensuring strict adherence to government policy on education, especially when it is not in conflict with the provisions of Nigeria’s Constitution. The introduction of post-UTME examinations, according to the lawmakers, was “part of admission requirements into Nigeria tertiary institutions, designed to function as internal quality control mechanism in these institutions, not to deny candidates admission of their choice.”
Few weeks ago, the Senate also directed its Committee on Education under the chairmanship of Senator Uche Chukwumerije, to investigate the conduct of Post- UTME by universities based on the avalanche of complaints calling for its abrogation. The parliamentarians suggested that the Ministry of Education should, as a matter of urgency, investigate the allegations of extortion trailing post-UME screening in the country with a view to rescuing parents and their wards from exploitation by universities. They noted, like most other Nigerians, that the institutions had converted the test to a quick source of raising funds instead of its original purpose of securing the best candidates for university admission.
Former Vice-Chancellor, Federal University, Oye in Ekiti State and current minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, noted that about 1.1 million youths are denied admissions into universities and other tertiary institutions in Nigeria on a yearly basis. While justifying the need for more higher institutions in the country, the VC said that an average of 1.5 million Nigerian youths sat for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination annually, but regretted that only 400,000 got admitted. He faulted patronage of foreign universities by wealthy Nigerians.
Admission screening faulty – Candidates
According to him, statistics had shown that wealthy Nigerians spend as much as N400 billion on themselves and their children’s education overseas, while the universities at home were under serious stress as a result of underfunding. He identified lack of accommodation, lecture halls and laboratory facilities as among the greatest impediments of the country’s universities.
However, the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, has said that in order to ensure quality, the post- UTME screening would have to stay for now. She, nonetheless, admitted the need for review, which, according to her, will curb any form of exploitation of prospective candidates. “At this time of Nigeria’s history, we are particularly interested in quality. Quality is what everybody is emphasizing now. We know that we are emphasising another aspect too, because we have to ensure equity. But definitely, our mission is to ensure quality cuts across the entire sector. So, that is why we are saying that post-UTME, at least for now, is something that we should continue. And we are pleading with all stakeholders for understanding,” she said.
The minister added that there would be a stakeholders’ forum to determine the future of post-UTME. “But I feel that the issue of ensuring quality is one thing we should be interested in. JAMB is also our product. It is our baby and part of us. We are proud of what JAMB is doing. If universities are going to admit 3,000 students, 5,000 would have applied and through JAMB, we may have about 800 or so. So, you can have fewer people coming but each of the universities also has embedded in their own Act to now have a say in who they actually admit. So, it is very technical. I am sure the lawmakers are also looking into this.” She, however, warned universities against charging more than N2000 as fees paid by candidates sitting for post-JAMB examinations.
In a related development, the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Dibu Ojerinde, warned universities and other degreeawarding institutions in the country, to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations governing admission process. He vowed to put an end to what he described as a “regime of admissions regularisation” in degree-awarding institutions. Ojerinde made the position known in a statement signed by the Board’s Head of Information, Fabian Benjamin.
The recent grumbling and public outcry that broke out as a result of candidates who sat for the just concluded 2013 post-JAMB across the nation’s universities has again thrown the admission issue into the limelight. Many had observed without reservation, the propensity for manipulations and admission racketeering in some of these universities. Though, the universities are arguing otherwise.
Head of Management Information Systems in the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH) Mrs. Esther Victor Ephraim, who gave statistics of candidates admitted in the last five years in her university, said CRUTECH has so far admitted 16,102. According to her, in 2008/2009 session the institution recommended 2,296 candidates to JAMB for admission, 2009/2010 had 3,302 students, 2010/2011, 3,556 and in 2011/2012, 3,473 while in 2012/2013, 3,475 were offered admission. On the issue of post-JAMB charges, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Effiom Ene-Obong, said the institution charges N3000, which he described as being reasonable, because, according to him, state-owned universities are allowed to charge as much as 5,000.
Immediately after Nebo, became the Vice Chancellor of University of Nigeria Nsukka in 2004, he introduced the post-UME examination screening for candidates gaining admission into the university. Even though, there was discontentment by some sections of education stakeholders in the then “strange” development, Nebo stood his ground as candidates were made to pass through the internal university examination after crossing the JAMB cut-off mark to be properly admitted into the university.
The then UNN Vice Chancellor said the decision was taken by the university senate because the competence of students in recent years became so bad that lecturers were finding it difficult teaching students who were more or less “morons” and that the output of the university became questionable. As has been the tradition in the university since then, last week Thursday and Friday were busy days for the Ivory Tower community as the post-UME candidates thronged the campus from different parts of Nigeria where they sat for the examinations.
All the cyber cafes within the campus and all over Nsukka and its environs were congested as the candidates search for their examination numbers. It was the same situation in the commercial banks, especially at First bank where the candidates had to buy scratch cards at the cost of N2, 100. 00 to be able to access the university portal where relevant information about the examination and the candidates were obtained.
One of the candidates, Nnenna Ogbuenyi, who travelled from Abuja to Nsukka on Wednesday, said she left Nsukka for Enugu to be able to obtain the scratch card with which she took the examination. She narrated that her efforts to gain admission into the university last year was not met because of issues associated with taking the examination as she arrived late from Abuja. “So this time I had to come earlier than scheduled,” she said.
Other candidates complained of different problems ranging from their inability to locate their examination numbers, to issues of accommodation among others. Last year, the university experienced similar problem and that of examination paper leakage, which led to the test being cancelled and rescheduled. The Public Relations Officer of the University, Gab Ndu, said that about 9000 candidates usually applied for admission in the past three years, adding that between 5000 and 6000 candidates were offered admissions into different faculties on yearly basis.
Before now, the cut-off marks at the Kaduna State University, for applicants were 160, but in the last two sessions the institution approved 180 cut-off points for its first choice applicants. Sunday Mirror gathered that 10,679 candidates applied for admission in the 2013/2014 session but only 5,000 may be considered. “Information we have now indicated that 10,679 choose KASU as their first choice but unfortunately only about 5000 may be admitted,” a source at the admission office of the university said.
‘Universities only concerned about what they stand to gain’
The public relations officer of the Benue State University, Tser Vanger, also disclosed that by 2009 about 9000 applicants sought admission into its institution but only 5000 were offered admission through the Post-UTME. He said the figure doubled by 2010 to 18000 applicants while 10000 were successful in their quest to study one discipline or another in the institution. For 2011, 21000 applied while 13000 were offered admission and 4000 came in through direct entry. In 2012, 24000 applied out of which 14000 were given admission. The current session, according to him, had 34000, pointing out that the student’s population at present stands at 21000.
However, independent investigations by Sunday Mirror revealed that despite the channels for proper admission of students into the varsity, there exists a number of sharp practices as some intakes often times found their way into the University through influential persons whose lists area mostly honored by the government house, thereby making it difficult for the high number of applicants to gain admission into the varsity. A former pro-chancellor of the University of Maiduguri and educationist, Dr. Aker Gajir, in a chat with Sunday Mirror said the lackadaisical attitude of running government-owned universities is not too good. He pointed out that premium is often given to government top functionaries whereas it ought not to be so.
“This is because if you look at it, the most brilliant students are mostly orphans, who need to be encouraged but the reverse is the case as attention is not always given hence they cannot afford the bribery. This tendency has become a way of life in securing admission into institutions of higher learning nowadays. There should be a change of attitude in the interest of all,” Gajir advised.
However, the Vice Chancellor of Christian- owned private university also in Benue State, Professor Emmanuel Hemen, has called on stakeholders to desist from legalising offering admission to the highest bidders. He emphasise the need to ensure the intellectuality of students as was the case in the past. Tegh Ankyambe, a retired vice principal, academics of Government Secondary School, North bank Makurdi, also recommended that government should make education affordable to all Nigerians and ensured standard as was the case in the early 1970’s. “There should be a halt to issuance of admission to students who do not merit the offers,” the former educationist, said.
The post-UME test, which started in 2005, is being conducted by about 104 universities in the country. The Federal Government had granted the universities powers to screen candidates for admission based on the allegation that the joint examination being conducted by the JAMB was riddled with fraud.
But since the test was introduced, most universities hardly abide by the guidelines put in place by the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission to ensure that the interests of parents and their wards are not jeopardised. The Education Ministry once stated that the exercise was solely to ensure that only deserving candidates worthy in character and learning, as well as possessing requisite potential for higher education, were admitted. It had warned that the “pre-registration screening exercise should never be abused in any form or wrongly taken as a source of revenue.”
Yet, contrary to the directive, a number of universities have been conducting fresh examinations for their prospective candidates and charging new screening fees ranging from N500 to N10, 000. In many cases, candidates are made to go through other harrowing experience in meeting the screening requirements. To be eligible to participate in the exercise, most universities demand that candidates register on-line by purchasing post-UME screening registration scratch card. Others insist that all correspondence on the screening exercise should be done online. In a society where internet penetration is still low, many believe that these would create additional costs for candidates.
JAMB has also said that the fact that candidates are made to select up to six institutions makes the idea of writing internal exams untenable. ASUU once described as illegal, the action of universities that charged extra fees for the screening. The union argued that the screening directive could only take effect if the law that recognises JAMB as the statutory body to examine and co-ordinate matriculation examination in the country was amended.
NUC had in 2007 ordered the stoppage of post-UME examinations and a refund of the money collected from students.
It later rescinded its decision after the institutions pledged to comply with the instruction. Unfortunately, most universities continue to charge outrageous fees through spurious levies ranging from form to checking of results, in spite of the fact that the commission had directed in 2009 that the fee for the screening should not exceed N1,000.
According to the Director of the Centre for Moral Mentorship, Enugu, Maureen Chima, “it is obvious that some universities are mainly concerned with the resources the screening exercise is generating rather than the opportunity it provides for double-checking both academic aptitude and moral stability of their prospective candidates. Indeed, screening has been turned into a toll-gate by many universities to make cheap money.”
Additional reports from Henry Iyorkase (Makurdi), Aza Msue (Kaduna), Emmanuel Onani (Abuja), Richard Ndoma (Calabar) and Dennis Agbo (Enugu).
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