Criticisms and commendations trailed the recent decision by the Minister
of Education, Adamu Adamu, to scrap the post-Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examination (UTME). Reactions poured in torrents across
the country. Some described the decision as a drawback to the concerted
efforts to improve the quality of students admitted into the nation’s
universities, while others gave a clap offering to the government for
the courage to restore the battered autonomy of the Joint Admission and
Matriculation Board (JAMB).
A vociferous objection to the decision came from seasoned educationist and Proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, (SAN), who reportedly described the decision as a regrettable mistake. He stated that in 2003 when he was the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos and Chairman of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, “it was discovered by university administrators in this country 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.”
Another erudite scholar and former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Tolu Odugbemi, held similar opinion. He said the decision to scrap the post-UTME without proper research was ill-conceived and utterly worrisome. He maintained that universities should have the right to admit suitable students based on relevant and objective criteria.
“Is there data or published research studies available either for or against dumping “post- UTME” in our universities to back such important policy? Have the problems which led universities to introduce the post-UTME exam been addressed? Government policies are based on facts and research data”, he said.
Odugbemi, who was also the former Vice Chancellor, Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), canvassed autonomy for Nigerian higher institutions, especially on academic and research issues if they were to meet the challenges of the 21st century. He explained that government ministries carry too much load that unnecessarily court hostile views from various segments of the society. Read More Here
A vociferous objection to the decision came from seasoned educationist and Proprietor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, (SAN), who reportedly described the decision as a regrettable mistake. He stated that in 2003 when he was the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos and Chairman of Pro-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, “it was discovered by university administrators in this country 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.”
Another erudite scholar and former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Tolu Odugbemi, held similar opinion. He said the decision to scrap the post-UTME without proper research was ill-conceived and utterly worrisome. He maintained that universities should have the right to admit suitable students based on relevant and objective criteria.
“Is there data or published research studies available either for or against dumping “post- UTME” in our universities to back such important policy? Have the problems which led universities to introduce the post-UTME exam been addressed? Government policies are based on facts and research data”, he said.
Odugbemi, who was also the former Vice Chancellor, Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), canvassed autonomy for Nigerian higher institutions, especially on academic and research issues if they were to meet the challenges of the 21st century. He explained that government ministries carry too much load that unnecessarily court hostile views from various segments of the society. Read More Here
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