following the ongoing controversies generated
since Education Minister, Mallam Adamu Adamu
announced the scrapping of post-UTME tests organised
by higher institutions, stakeholders, especially
university administrators and lecturers have demanded
the complete overhaul of the Joint Admission and
Matriculation Board (JAMB). The stakeholders have also
called for the full restoration of autonomy to the
universities, arguing that the buck of the admission
process should end on the table of each university.

Deputy Director, Distance Learning Centre, University
of Ibadan, Professor Oyesoji Aremu in his reaction
described the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board
and the Federal Ministry of Education as institutions
which lack policy direction on the Nigerian education
sector.

In his words: “JAMB and the Federal Ministry of
Education seem not to understand what they exactly
want for education in Nigeria in respect of candidates
seeking admission. Within a spate of a month, JAMB has
‘foisted’ two admission policies on the country.” He
lamented that while the initial cancellation of Post-
UTME is generating controversy and still being debated,
the body came out with the latest one, Point System
Option. He pointed out that few weeks ago, JAMB
through the Minister of Education, ‘decreed’ that
money must not be charged by universities for pre-
admission exercise, while the latest development stated
that universities would charge fee for screening at the
end of the process of admission. ‘’What do we call that?
Confusion!”

Also speaking on the issue, UNILAG-ASUU Chairman, Dr
Laja Odukoya said that with the actions and policies
taken so far, the Minister of Education has deepened
the confusion he created.

He said: ‘‘Clearly the minister is merely deepening the
confusion he has created based on ill-conceived policy
and lack of courage to do what is right.” He reiterated
that the point system which he now introduced was in
use at the University of Ibadan and jettisoned by UI at
the introduction of post-UTME. He posited that the
minister by his latest policy somersault has admitted
that JAMB cannot be trusted with university admission.

He said: “The minister’s position is sadly a historical as it
ignores factors that brought about post-UTME in the
first instance. “ With the new arrangement, candidates
of miracle centres who brought their scores in WASCE,
NECO and UTME are advantaged over hard-working,
honest and diligent students. ‘’Verifiable data from
universities since the commencement of post-UTME as
proof that those admitted through Post-UTME are
academically better given the reduced drop-out rate as
a consequence of poor academic performance after
the first year in the university. ‘’The minister should
have the courage to do the right thing. JAMB has failed.
It should be scrapped. Universities should be given
their autonomy to chose their students.

Even the new
policy still allow for payment for screening.” He
continued, ‘’The minister’s directive is the illogicality of
our quasi, and feeding-bottle federalism carried to a
ridiculous extreme. Education is on the concurrent list
and private universities not extension of government
bureaucracy despite the need for uniform standards.

“Two years ago, the National Assembly had a public
hearing on scraping Post-Jamb. The weight of evidence
against JAMB made it impossible to scrapped Post-
JAMB. “The very last UTME was most embarrassing with
JAMB experiencing system failure. Affected students
were dashed 40 marks each by JAMB! What a manner
of examination body?”

2016 UTME candidates are still waiting endl

http://www.bamsforum.com/scrap-jamb-now-stakeholders-reprimand-education-minister.html