NWACHUKWU NANCY WHEN POST UTME OBJECTIVES ARE ARGUABLY LOST A National Committee on University Entrance Examinations was set up to bring about better coordination of university entrance examinations against the original form of respective screening of candidates. The committee is remarkable for establishing Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in 1978 after it was discovered that the respective screening system was inefficient. Despite JAMB’s upgrade to e-registration, the Post University Matriculation Examination (post UME/ post JAMB) was considered in order to place successful students of JAMB on a second test before they could be offered university admission. In 2005, the policy came into action and required all tertiary institutions to conduct written, oral and any other modes of screening for candidates who are listed by JAMB as qualified for the post UME. The freedom to conduct a verification exercise for interested candidates has made it possible for tertiary institutions to admit their definition of qualified students. The post JAMB policy makes it easier to screen out candidates who may have cheated their way into attractive JAMB scores. The post JAMB policy is specifically to upgrade the educational system in Nigeria and guide against the crash of tertiary educational system which can be as a result of poor intakes. It is sustainable in order to achieve a high-standard educational system. Although it is stressful for the prospective freshmen, the post UTME is not created to be far from the JAMB outlook especially in its structure (subject and content). It is most likely that any student who genuinely does well in JAMB will not have a problem with the post JAMB examination when his name is forwarded to his schools of choice. It’s argued to be the only way genuine success can be ensured because so many students who are currently undergraduates were favoured by this system which allows the university to take responsibility for their admitted students. Cultism in tertiary institutions has notably reduced since the inception of post UTME screening exercise. It has reduced the rate of fraudulent activities usually recorded during admission process. The discrepancy between the JAMB results and post UTME results on yearly basis (2005- 2013) has made it almost impossible to abolish the post UTME system following arguments against its effectiveness. Most tertiary institutions among the ninety-two existing institutions in Nigeria may have well-structured modes of screening successful JAMB candidates. However, these structures are not well regulated. Universities such as University of Ibadan in Oyo state has revised the structure of her post UTME twice since 2005 when it accepted the policy to determine the qualification of admitted candidates. In 2010, the University of Ibadan conducted its last short term structure of post UTME where students were examined orally. In 2011, the Model was changed. Candidates were examined in halls where they wrote on answer scripts instead of the former interactive session. In addition to the revised standard of University of Ibadan post UTME, the 2011/2012 successful JAMB candidates were only eligible for POST JAMB if they met the 50:50 standard. 2010/2011 used the same formula but on a 60:40. In 2012, the model calculated the JAMB score and WAEC scores (50:50) to arrive at a sum that varied according to departments available within the university. Several tertiary institutions in Nigeria can boast of a definite structure or model for the post UTME examinations. The most likely indefinite structure has made it difficult to clear the criticism of the post JAMB system. Nigerian tertiary intuitions currently run the system as a goldmine and an avenue to make money from candidates who choose them for undergraduate study. The main aim of the policy is arguably lost. It is argued that the post UTME system undermines the Joint admission and matriculation Board’s capability, importance and effectiveness. The supposed source of building a stronger educational system in the nation is seemingly a source of revenue in most tertiary institutions. It’s arguable that the lack of credibility in JAMB does not totally make post UTME credible. In 2008, Late President Umar’ Musa Yar’Adua remarked that the post UTME system will be abolished if the complaints persist from parents, guardians and students. The accreditation of Universities to check the quality of students being admitted, staff, facilities, learning environment, and the university management was introduced in 2009 to find an in-depth argument against the post JAMB exercise. This has remained the page until I decided to ask myself for a reason I would recommend Post JAMB screening exercise in the Nigerian tertiary institutions’ admission process. It is simply because I see a lot of strength in the exercise whereas its identifiable weaknesses can be fixed to derive a credible tertiary educational system. Post UTME examinations, conducted respectively, should be regulated to ensure that the universities and tertiary institutions do not undermine the good reasons that propagated the policy ab initio. The regulatory process will not leave tertiary institutions the free and open ended option on how to structure their screening modules. The post UTME policy allows institutions to conduct written, oral or any other forms of screening exercise. This is open ended enough to allow institutions to leave out the goal of the post JAMB system and exclusively pursue the benefits of the registration and payment made by the candidates. The structure of the screening notwithstanding, the objectives of the post UTME system requires that the mode(s) of screening are revised periodically and carefully monitored for effectiveness. Post JAMB exercise should be tailored to meet a futuristic goal which is to enable the Nigerian tertiary institutions to produce graduates who will be nationally relevant and globally competitive. If this may be the primary objective, it implies that the fees paid to be able to write/participate in the post UTME examinations will not be notably exorbitant. It will possibly become cheaper. The cheaper cost will also help the indigent but brilliant students to find a place in the academic system since genuine brilliance and tenacity to succeed are the major qualities sought after by the tertiary institutions. This is the basic argument against the post JAMB system. Asides from that argument, the Nigerian Educational System strongly needs the post UTME because it promises a better Nigeria. I was very delighted to go through the accreditation process in 2010 until I was found worthy of an admission to study communication and language arts at the University of Ibadan. It is a feeling that a genuinely successful JAMB candidate understands. The rigour of post JAMB is worth a better structure to ensure it is equally free and fair as much as it meets the desired goals for a standard educational system; a Nigerian Dream.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 01:38:31 +0000
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