•Ministry of Education takes final position today
By Gabriel Dike
Authorities of some universities
have defied a Federal Government directive to stop post Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examination (UTME) for candidates seeking admission into
tertiary institutions.
Daily Sun gathered that some universities
have devised another means to test applicants and charge administrative
fees in the process.
Some universities are circumventing the
directive by inviting applicants for admission for the 2016/2017
academic session to pay certain amount and also sit for a screening test
before being considered for admission in advertisements in national
newspapers.
One of the media aides to the Minister of
Education, Dr. Bem Goong told Daily Sun that the proposed screening
test is illegal and unacceptable as government has stopped candidates
writing any form of examination in order to gain admission into tertiary
institutions.
The University of Benin (UNIBEN), in an advertisement for admission,
said the screening would be computer-based and candidates are expected
to pay N2, 000 and N1, 000 for past questions (optional).
UNIBEN Public Relations Officer, Mr.
Michael Osasuyi justified the advertisement. He said the university
management is not violating any government directive.
‘’Parents should wait for us to conduct
our screening before complaining. We are in order. UNIBEN screening
started from the cut-off mark. The amount we are asking candidates to
pay is administrative charges for the admission exercise.’’
On its part, management of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo is
demanding N5,000 from each candidates for the screening test and that
the payment form/slip would serve as entry ticket into the screening
hall as well as sitting arrangement.
Acting Head of the Centre for
Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR), Mr. Adekola said
despite the advertisement published for the 2016/2017 admission exercise
in a newspaper, the institution intend to make the applicants write another examination.
The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT)
in its advert for the 2016/2017 admission exercise requested
prospective applicants to pay N2, 000 as processing fee and for result
checking and asked candidates to come to different designated venues.
Dr. Goong said it was wrong for any university to conduct screening test as well as demand fees from prospective candidates.
Hesaid the minister will release a statement on the issue today.
institution is expected to ask
prospective applicants to sit for another screening test as they are
doing now. Admission is based on candidates’ performance in JAMB. The
minister will release a statement on this issue on Tuesday, he
explained.’’
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