VCs advise Senate not to scrap off post-UTME process

By Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin 20 hours 21 minutes ago

Vice-Chancellors under the aegis of Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVNU) have written to the Senate on the legality of the post-Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) test.
The Senate described the post-UTME test being conducted by tertiary institutions as illegal, threatening to outlaw it.
The vice-chancellors are  moving to ensure that the Senate does not prevent universities from conducting post-UTME tests.
AVNU Chairman and Vice Chancellor, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Prof Ish-aq Oloyede spoke to reporters yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, after a pre-convocation press.
The VC said President Goodluck Jonathan would be in Ilorin on Saturday to inaugurate some of the university’s projects.
He said 5,330 graduants would be awarded degrees/diploma certificates on October 24 and 25.
Oloyede said vice-chancellors had requested the Senate to hear their side of the story before taking a decision on the post-UTME test.
His words: “The VCs have been very careful not to respond to JAMB’s campaign of calumny. 
“We have heard that the Senate is threatening to outlaw post-UTME, but the Senate is informed enough to hear from all the parties before taking its decision.”
The VC hoped that senators would not be misled into taking decisions for states and private universities, considering the tripod nature of the university system.
Oloyede insisted that the Act establishing universities in the country empowers them to admit students, stressing that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was established to harmonise the admission exercise.
“Universities must not be stopped from screening their candidates and determining their competence. 
“Experience has shown that other people sat for JAMB exams for candidates.

culled from the nation