Th e Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, has said many things about the Unifi ed Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), including that “JAMB is not an examination body, rather, it is a ranking body”; “JAMB is a screening body”; “It is a coordinating and clearing house”; “to rank already qualifi ed candidates”.
All of that suggests (indeed indicates) that UTME is no longer necessary.
But then a caveat: “If there are enough spaces in tertiary institutions, there may not be need for UTME.
” But UTME has been neutralized with some other statements of JAMB, since “Th e cut-off mark is not a pass or fail mark”, and admission depends on “one of many factors such as post-UTME (where applicable), O’ Level results scoring, etc”.
When JAMB set 120 as cutoff mark, many Nigerians were protesting that it meant 30% is taken as pass mark, and that it was too low, and that JAMB was out to lower the already low or falling standard of education.
JAMB came out to explain that tertiary institutions were free to set its own cut-off , but not lower than 120.
Some other people argue, justly, that JAMB has neutralized UTME, for making 30% to be pass mark.
With all of the foregoing, where is the place of UTME again? I heard a tertiary institution asking prospective applicants to come with or without UTME but the requisite fi ve credits.
Th at is not objectionable in itself, but a categorical statement (not perambulating) from JAMB is imperative.
Whether “there are enough spaces in tertiary institutions” or not, UTME, as it stands currently has been justly neutralized, and putting prospective tertiary education applicants through unnecessary UTME hassle, particularly at this critical moment of economic hardship, is unacceptable.
It is not UTME that makes JAMB a clearing house “to rank already qualifi ed candidates”.
Candidates become “already qualifi ed” or not, based on “O’ Level results scoring” and screening/test by the admitting institutions.
JAMB should therefore reconsider its position and give UTME an honorable and befi tting burial. Prof Oyeniran Abioje, University of Ilorin.
