Most Nigerians, especially students, know how slim the probability of gaining admission into tertiary institutions has been, for more than a decade now, university aspirants face numerous set back when they seek admission into Higher institutions, as a result of this set back, not every secondary school graduates are willing further their Education in the university. But a very good number keep competing to obtain a space, thus making more intense the competition, and making less the probability of each being admitted.
The federal government, through the ministry of education and it related parastatals of recent scrapped the post university matriculation exam PUME. In what the ministry saw as a positive step, in bringing to an end the abnormal set backs faced by jambites yearly, which results in very minimal in terms of admitted candidates compared to those excluded, coupled with a chain of pre-admission processes, accompanied with the high cost of this processes. To reduce stress they made a move in the scrap of PUME, indeed a welcome development. But it will be more of detriment to 2016/2017 jambites, if this decision is to take effect in the 2016/2017 admission process.
In this article I highlight reasons why this, if implemented into the admission requirements and procedure of the 2016/2017 session, will bring down sky scrapper hopes built by millions of Nigerian youths seeking admission into tertiary institutions, despite the frustrating set back posed by JAMB during the exam. 2016/2017 session.
In the light of this many aspirants where Happy to learn of the scrapping of PUME. For another the news is coming as a shock, surprised that they just couldn't believe their ears, while few are just appalled and feel hit by the trailer and amongst this very unfortunate-an old wound is almost reoccurring.
It is in the voice of those tears filled eyes that I pen down what I see as the cause/reason for their very pain.
Before I go into details the reasons, why the immediate implementation of the decision could not favour some, let me wave into a reason why even those that exceeded the cut-off may still have reasons to worry.
If you scored 180+ and did not choose Your state university or any other university within your catchment area(Geo-political zone), then the probability of you gaining admission is very slim. Worst if you're aspiring for a highly competitive course or an over subscribed university. On this in particular, I will not go further than that.
I bring forward, very possible reasons why the immediate implementation of the new JAMB policy will not favour most university aspirant.
ISSUES OF CATCHMENT AREA: Admission slot will be very narrow for candidates that did not choose their states' universities and universities within their catchment area, as catchment area is a part of the considerations put into the offering of admission into Nigerian Universities(both state and federal universities). As it amounts for 40% of the admission quota.
I strongly believe that if this policy was reached before the registration, during or immediately after the 2016 JAMB examination, most candidates would have had a rethink as regards their choices of Universities.
UNWILLFUL REDISTRIBUTION:
there is going to be a possible redistribution of candidates, where some candidates would be Transferred to another school, other than their intended school of choice, and this is likely to include private universities, federal polytechnics, and federal universities. With the current hardship, Imagine the sons and daughters of average civil servants, redistributed from low cost federal universities of there choice, to the very high cost of private Nigerian Universities like Babcock university, Afe babalola university, Bowen university and their likes, where you're required to pay huge amount of cash, ranging from hundreds of thousand to millions of naira.
The children of the poor redistributed to this universities would be faced with one option, 'retreat'! A few may decide to venture into it with hope that, "E go better" but they seldom succeed this hopes, as most often they drop out, due to incapacitated finances to carry them through to the end of their studies in those private universities.
CUT OFF MARK
Button cut off is 180, meaning no tertiary institution is to go below 180 but may go above if so wished by the university. Prior to this you can imagine what the likes of UNILAG whom had previously raised her cut-off mark at 250, last year before she was pressured to reverse it.
Putting into considerations the unlucky students whom are at the more negative, side of this policy. I put forward this question.
What then happens to a reasonable in terms of population scored below 180?
Bare in mind that the 2016/2017 JAMB examination suffered a big blow, making victims of several candidates scoring way below their preparations and expectations.
Before the exam. In my personal definition I say luck is when preparations meets expectations. But the 2016/2017 JAMB examination brought me back to reality. As students even amongst my friends and previous secondary school mates where identified with sorry grades like 100s,120s,140s and 160s. Regardless of previous records and their academic differences, this are pains of which must have been lessened by the decision of most affected candidates to patronise College of educations and Polytechnics.
But with the current policy been put forward by JAMB, the little hope the unlucky candidates clings on is no more.
The above are highly negative effects the immediate implementation of the scrapping of PUME on 2016 jambites.
MY PLEA:
In other to avoid the agony and frustration this may bring on Nigerian universities aspirants. And a possible revolt by the victims. I Humble suggest the federal government through the ministry of education, uphold the brilliant policy but delay it's implementation for the next academic session.
Thanks
BY: Agboja Nnabuike David
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