The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its decision to enforce a permanent ban on Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) screenings for university admissions. This development follows a series of meetings with Vice-Chancellors (VCs) and the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu. Here’s a breakdown of the government’s stance on Post-UTME and how it impacts MOUAU’s admission process for the 2016/2017 academic session.
Federal Government’s Stance on Post-UTME:
Malam Adamu Adamu, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, confirmed that the Federal Government is firm on its ban of Post-UTME. This ban takes immediate effect and aims to standardize the admission process across all Nigerian universities.
The Minister stated that the key requirement for admission into any Nigerian university should be the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) scores and certificates. Other forms of screening are no longer considered necessary, except for verifying candidates’ certificates, confirming their JAMB scores, and conducting basic physical checks to ensure candidates do not have any negative affiliations, such as cultism.
He emphasized that this screening should be free of charge for students, and it should take place upon resumption to avoid unnecessary costs for travel or additional testing.
Why This Matters:
The Minister highlighted that subjecting final-year secondary school students to multiple examinations in a short period is burdensome and unnecessary. This position aims to reduce the stress placed on candidates and prevent exploitative practices by institutions.
MOUAU’s Response:
Given the Federal Government’s directive, it is expected that Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUAU) will not conduct Post-UTME screenings for the 2016/2017 admission session. Like other institutions across Nigeria, MOUAU is expected to follow the guidelines set by the government, relying solely on JAMB results and certificates for the screening process.
This means that MOUAU applicants will not have to pay additional fees for a Post-UTME screening test. Instead, the university will verify applicants’ documents and JAMB scores, ensuring that candidates meet the basic entry requirements.
Conclusion:
The Federal Government’s decision to eliminate Post-UTME is a significant step towards simplifying the university admission process. MOUAU, in line with this directive, will not conduct any Post-UTME screening for the 2016/2017 academic session. Candidates are encouraged to focus on their JAMB results and ensure they meet the basic admission criteria as outlined by the university.
For more information on the admission process, please visit the MOUAU portal or contact the university’s admission office.