Tasks executive on science, technology

THE Upper Chambers of the National Assembly yesterday passed a motion mandating its committee to investigate all universities conducting Post-University Matriculation Examinations (UME) tests in the country.

Following a motion titled, “Illegal Subjection of Candidates to Examinations by Universities after the Test by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB)”, moved by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West Senatorial District), the Senate took time to examine the pros and cons of the exercise.

And, ahead the 2012 budget preparation, the National Assembly has tasked the Federal Government to increase its budgetary allocation to the nation’s science and technology sector.

Speaking when he visited the site of a solar plant production site in Abuja, Chairman, Senate Committee on Science and Technology, Prof. Robert Ajayi Boroffice, stressed that a virile science and technology sector was key to Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.

The solar power plant being established by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) is almost set for commissioning and would, according to the agency, locally produce the cells used to produce solar-power panels.

Boroffice stressed that the plant would save money for the country.

His words: “One of the major problems Nigeria has today is energy. Unless we harness all the sources of energy that we have, the transformation agenda of Mr. President will just be a mirage.

“Efforts by NASENI to produce solar panels and popularise the technology are commendable. Producing solar panels that will boost power generation in the country and create employment on the other hand.”

Boroffice therefore, urged government to take local capacities in technology advancement more seriously by ensuring better funding and greater policy support.

Director General, NASENI, Prof. Olusegun Adewoye, stressed that the plant would soon be commissioned, as the agency was putting finishing touches to the production line.

Adewoye said NASENI would set up, manage and supervise the production of the solar cells for the next four years after which the plant would be commercialised and handed over to the private sector.

In his submission, Lokpobiri noted that the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) was the authorised body conducting matriculation examination for entry into all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in Nigeria.

He added that JAMB also appoints examiners, moderators, invigilators, members of the subject panel and committees and other persons with respect to matriculation examinations and any other matters “incidental thereto or connected therewith.”

“The Board also places suitably qualified candidates in tertiary institutions after having taken into account vacancies available in each institution,” he added.

Lokpobiri observed that the universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and the other stakeholders were sufficiently represented in the membership of the Board, adding that the laws establishing the various universities “empower them to hold examinations and grant degrees, diplomas, certificates and distinctions to persons who have pursued courses of study approved by the university and have satisfied such other requirements as the university may lay down.”

However, the senator observed that in conducting the post-UME examination, virtually all universities charge fees and subject candidates to series of tests and interviews which most often take several days to conclude.

He stressed that “this is at grave costs to parents and guardians, and a clear violation of the JAMB Act.”

Lokpobiri added that even the Registrar of JAMB has said that the post-UME test was unnecessary.

He stated: Since JAMB is alive to its responsibility as provided by law, there would be no reason whatsoever to subject candidates to another round of illegal test at grave cost and its other attendant consequences.”

Lokpobiri prayed the chamber to mandate its committee on education to undertake a comprehensive probe of all universities and other higher institutions conducting post-UME examinations in the country.

Senators Datti Baba Ahmed, Ayogu Eze, Nkechi Nwogu, Abdul Ningi, James Manager, Nenadi Usman, Ahmed Lawal and Emmanuel Paulk supported the motion for several reasons while senators Olufemi Lanlehi, Aisha Al-Hassan, Boroffice and Gobir Ibrahim opposed it on diverse grounds.

Boroffice, who was the founding Director general of the National Space Research and Development Agency added: “It is rather unfortunate that the Federal Government is not committing enough funds to science and technology in the country .If we look at the level of funding in science and technology in any nation you will see a correlation between it and their income per capital when the funding of science and technology is high, per capital income also increases.


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64285:-senatenprobes-post-ume-tests-seeks-abolition&catid=1:national&Itemid=559

I am in total disagreement. Jamb ought to be scrapped. I am a jambite and i have seen cases whereby students pass jamb and fail putme and vice versa and those that failed putme but passed jamb could be attributed to writing their exams in special centre. To me,the delay of the putme is worth it. . .

Lmao at this name:

Relax101:

Following a motion  titled,  “Illegal Subjection of Candidates to Examinations by Universities after the Test by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB)”, moved by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West Senatorial District), the Senate took time to examine the pros and cons of the exercise.

Anyway, at topic, no reason they shouldn't be able to administer post-UTME. Helps to weed out cheats.

D post Utme will turn out to be,if it isn't alredy d most disastrous thin to happen to d university system in nigeria;confirmed stories of huge sums changing hands b4 admission alredy exists and b4 long to gain admission,u must b close to or know sbody close to the toplevel in each uni's administration.
D UME is far frm perfect but what it needs is continuous reforms and plugging of loopholes dat mke malpractice possible,universities determining admission wt dere own exams will only create disasters of corruption,graft,favouratism and sexual intimidation of all kinds in an already depraved system and country.

Anyway, at topic, no reason they shouldn't be able to administer post-UTME. Helps to weed out cheats.

And, Whatz up with these diasporan niggers?

Why they all think they know it allllllllllllllllllllllllllllll?

Post-UME is no SAT.

Must you phocking post on everythread?

"Dont speak, if you cant improve the silence."

If you have no idea, move on.

doctokwus:

D post Utme will turn out to be,if it isn't alredy d most disastrous thin to happen to d university system in nigeria;confirmed stories of huge sums changing hands b4 admission alredy exists and b4 long to gain admission,u must b close to or know sbody close to the toplevel in each uni's administration.
D UME is far frm perfect but what it needs is continuous reforms and plugging of loopholes dat mke malpractice possible,universities determining admission wt dere own exams will only create disasters of corruption,graft,favouratism and intimate intimidation of all kinds in an already depraved system and country.

Gbam! Gbam!! Gbam!!!

Ajibel:

I am in total disagreement. Jamb ought to be scrapped. I am a jambite and i have seen cases whereby students pass jamb and fail putme and vice versa and those that failed putme but passed jamb could be attributed to writing their exams in special centre. To me,the delay of the putme is worth it. . .

The solution is not to scrap JAMB. JAMB is there to streamline the admission process and make it fair and in a way protect the students from the many monsters in our universities eager to exploit naive students. The solution is not Post-UME. The best thing is to make JAMB better.

post utme has come to stay, all those JAMB cheaters loose out.

otokx:

post utme has come to stay, all those JAMB cheaters loose out.

+1

It is kind of obvious why it needs to stay.

I hav taught for years, post jamb is not what we need , what we need are
1) JAMB to conduct exam
2)give admmission to students with highly reduced cut-offs e.g if university needs 280 for medicine put cut-off at 210
3)addmitted student pay school fees but no matriculation and no accomaodation yet
4)At the end of first semester send 50% of admitted student that could not cope back home, this system is used in d school of nursing in Kwara state they call that exam WEEDING TEST
5)after the weeding test matriculation is done and accommodation given out
ADVANTAGES
1)Students that cheated and those that study hard are given equal opportunity to compete in the first semester in school
2)students that are not confidence of themselves but cheated in d UTME exam but gain admission are sure of coming back home
3)some unqualified students that gain admission might reject such admission

^--- Sounds way more expensive than just having a second round of testing.

Who pays for the additional cost of your proposed approach?