Scrap Post-UTME: Stakeholders Urge FG Action

The implementation of the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) by various Nigerian universities has sparked ongoing debates, with numerous stakeholders labeling it as a “sanctioned method of exploiting admission seekers.”

Those involved in Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu States expressed their opinions during distinct interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

They contended that the continued administration of this supplemental entrance exam was an undue burden on students and their families.

They pointed out that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), held yearly by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is adequate for assessing candidates’ capabilities and determining their suitability for admission into higher education institutions.

In Ebonyi, Mr. Chukwu Ogamdi, a parent, referred to the Post-UTME as “a money-making venture rather than an academic requirement” and urged the Federal Government to eliminate it.

He argued that parents who have already incurred significant expenses to register their children for the UTME administered by JAMB are subjected to paying again for yet another round of assessment that offers minimal or no benefit.

“The Post-UTME has become a financial strain on parents; universities should cease this repetition of examinations.

“JAMB is skilled enough to manage admission assessments, and its computer-based system is both transparent and reliable,” Ogamdi stated.

In a similar vein, Miss Lizzy Nwafor, a student aiming for admission into a federal university, remarked that the procedure discourages numerous young Nigerians from seeking higher education.

“After struggling with the UTME, you then face another examination and extra expenses; for many of us from low-income backgrounds, it is discouraging, and the government should step in to safeguard students,” she mentioned.

Mr. Emmanuel Okorie, a civil society advocate, noted that the existence of Post-UTME undermines the purpose of JAMB.

“JAMB was created to standardize admission processes; permitting universities to administer another exam implies that JAMB lacks competency; it induces confusion, squanders resources and opens avenues for exploitation,” Okorie asserted.

He additionally called on the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to abolish this practice and penalize institutions that continue to engage in it.

Also commenting, Mrs. Nkeiruka Akam, a secondary school educator, observed that the policy has surpassed its relevance.

As she stated, the primary aim was to maintain quality control in the admissions process, but it has reportedly been exploited over the years.

“The original noble goal of Post-UTME has been compromised. Presently, it revolves around financial gain rather than merit. Authorities should heed the pleas of both parents and students and put a stop to it,” she remarked.

Mr. Charles Igwe, the Admission Officer at Peaceland University in Enugu State, mentioned that the institution does not hold post UTME exams for its applicants but relies on the candidates provided by JAMB.

Igwe affirmed the university’s trust in JAMB’s integrity, stating, “That’s why if JAMB indicates that their cutoff is 140, we accept 140, and if they raise it to 150, we adopt 150.”

He remarked that, to his knowledge, those universities administering Post UTME were not seeking to undermine JAMB’s credibility.

He pointed out that some students attempt to engage in dishonest practices, referencing instances where individuals impersonated others during JAMB examinations to succeed.

“Due to this, some universities conduct post-UTME in addition to JAMB results to verify whether the students indeed match their claimed results,” he elaborated.

Dr. Patrick Ugwu, the university’s Registrar, explained that public universities like UNN and ESUT receive a significant number of applications each year.

He noted that the implementation of post-UTME enabled those universities to select candidates who genuinely deserve admission.

“Therefore, it is the university that utilizes this approach to identify those who truly merit their place, given that the applicant pool is often too extensive to accommodate,” he emphasized.

In a similar vein, Prof. MarySylvia Nwachukwu, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, stated that their university does not conduct post-UTME but places trust in the qualifications of students.

“We do not administer exams after JAMB, as we believe that candidates who qualify should be accepted,” she expressed.

Mr. Darlington Nweze, a Secondary School Teacher, argued that post UTME was unnecessary, asserting that the JAMB exam sufficiently assesses students’ capabilities.

He contended that imposing another exam following JAMB results amounts to redundant testing under the same criteria.

He added that a student could excel in JAMB while still struggle in university assessments due to the nature of the questions.

“Universities should concentrate on instructing those admitted via JAMB in their respective courses instead of conducting another examination, as it merely serves as a revenue-generating mechanism.”

“JAMB has prohibited all forms of assistance during examinations; thus, I believe any scores achieved by students accurately reflect their individual competencies,” Nweze concluded.

Mrs. Blessing Ani, a parent, observed that certain students might achieve high scores in JAMB but fail to reach half of that in the post UTME screening test.

She indicated that some students still engage in dishonest practices during the JAMB exam, which undermines its credibility.

In discussions with NAN, a section of residents from Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State expressed their support for the use of JAMB results by applicants for university admissions.

In individual interviews with NAN in Nsukka, they urged both the Federal and State Governments to prohibit universities from utilizing post-UTME as an admissions requirement for higher education institutions.

Mr. Titus Idu, the Proprietor of Future Leaders Academy Secondary School in Nsukka, called for governmental intervention on this issue through legislation by the National Assembly.

“In my opinion, it seems pointless for candidates to take the UTME exam only to face additional post-UTME screening exams conducted by the various higher education institutions in the country.”