Admission seekers into the Universities after the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) popularly branded as JAMB Customers as well as undergraduates of several institutions have hailed the decision scraping the Post-UTME Examinations in the country and elated for a thanksgiving service in churches.
Aside from the federal government’s argument on lack of absolute confidence in the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as reason for the conduct of the Post UTME Examination by Nigeria Universities, the students as well as admission
seekers have said that the Post- UTME was a conduit pipe not only to defraud admission seekers and parents but also to deprive aspiring students opportunity of achieving their heart desires on time and as at when due.
Some undergraduates with the federal University of Port Harcourt, Miss Grace Edet, John Ataisi, Kelechi Ambrose and Confidence Callistus amongst others who spoke to The Newswriter expressed appreciation to the minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu for the firm stance to reposition the tertiary institutions in the country, saying that though they have scale through the huddles, stress, and frustrations of the Post-UTME, it was after several efforts, adding that the coast is now clear for merit in gaining admission into any University of their choices.
Similarly, some aspiring students, Johny Kingdom, Tekena Tekena, Samson Okpa, Marion ThankGod and Conscience George have joined others in appreciating the position of the federal minister of Education over pronouncement on the suspension of the Post — UTME Examinations while calling on the minister to enforce the decision to the later, describing activities of Universities as frustrating, evil and damaging saying it has sent some to their early graves.
In their resolution to hold thanksgiving services to appreciate God’s handwork in churches of their choices, the popularly branded JAMB Customers noted that such decision should be accompanied by reduction in fuel prices, food stuffs and other commodities in the market to cater for them.
A parent Goodhead Nwidam, when contacted said he has heave sigh of great release as children can now test their abilities as unnecessary tax would be relieve off parents following incessant Post UTME Examination without successes.
It would be recalled that the federal government on Saturday, June 2, 2016 ordered that the controversial examinations usually organized by Universities in Nigeria for admission seekers after the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) should be scraped.
The government stressed that if there was absolute confidence in the joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), there should be no need for universities to conduct internal examinations to determine the fate of candidates seeking admissions.
The order was given in Abuja by the Minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu at the National Universities, Commission (NUC), while declaring Open the 2016 combined policy meeting on admissions to Universities, Polytechnics and other higher institutions in Nigeria.
According to a staff of the federal ministry of education, the combined policy meeting is an annual forum, where admission officers and stakeholders from Universities, Polytechnics and other tertiary institutions gathered to debate on common cut-off points for admissions.
Adamu noted, “Our Universities shouldn’t be conducting another examination: if they have any complaint against JAMB, they should come to the Ministry of Education and we will look into it”.
“If JAMB is qualified to conduct the computer based test and they are conducting the test, then there should be no need for students to sit for another examination to get admission”.
“As far as I am concerned JAMB has built a level of confidence in terms of conducing the UTME. A situation where Universities go and conduct another examination is unnecessary”.
The minister’s order was in reaction to a protest by a group of students numbering about 20 at the venue of the meeting.
The potesters who barricaded entrance of the NUC office called on the examination, National Assembly and other major relevant stakeholders to end the conduct of Post-UTME.
To further show the ministry’s commitment, the minister had also ordered JAMB to stop extra charges for change of course and change of school among others.
Buttressing Adamu’s position, permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. Falashade Yemi Esan affirmed that the decision to Scrap Post- UTME was unanimously reached by stakeholders at the meeting.
However, the stakeholders meeting agreed that 180 be adopted as general minimum cut-off points for admissions to Universities, Polytechnic, Colleges of Education and other diploma awarding institutions respectively.
Interestingly, the meeting was moderated by the Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde who emphasized those preferences for degree awarding institutions was still on the high side.
Generally, there are various levels of excitement across the country over the abortion of Post-UTME Examinations, but The Newswriter Educational desk equally gathered that students of various Universities are not only pleased with the action of the ministry of education but also called for the scraping of the National Youths Service Scheme.
Certain students who are advocating for the ending of the NYSC Scheme said the exercise has lost its value since corps members are either subjected to victims of election violence or Boko Haram targets.
The students are no longer interested in the service any longer and called for its extinction. ###
James Mgboineme
