2012 POST UME: JAMB And Universities Versus "Miracle Centres"

Written by Taiwo Adisa

 

Senate President David Mark

The debate as to whether it is right or wrong to subject candidates who sit for examinations conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) to another round of examinations by the respective universities has been on for long. A number of lawmakers were of the opinion that such examinations were not only superfluous, but exploitative. They insisted that JAMB has the statutory powers to conduct entrance examinations into universities and then polytechnics and colleges of education, and that any other examination conducted after a candidate has passed JAMB exam is against the intent of the law. The House of Representatives had actually, in May 2010, directed the Ministry of Education to abolish Post-JAMB examinations in the universities. But another group of lawmakers insisted that JAMB has lost its relevance and that the institution should be scrapped, having outlived its relevance.
In the heat of the arguments, Education Minister, Professor Ruqquayat Rufa’i, had declared that both JAMB and the universities have the legal teeth to conduct examinations. She said that the universities are empowered to screen results presented by JAMB candidates and offer admissions when satisfied. According to her, the Federal Ministry of Education recognises the powers of the two institutions and the need to give the best to Nigerians through qualitative education.
But then, there is beauty in conducting investigations and public hearings. Through such steps, the parliament, which is not in any way all-knowing, can get the benefit of expert opinions and then come to concrete conclusions. That is what the Senate did with its investigations into the conduct of Post-Universities Matriculations Examination (UME) being conducted on candidates who score 200 and above in JAMB examinations by the universities.
The Senate, on 13 October, 2011, mandated its Committee on Education, headed by Senator Uche Chukwumerije, to conduct proper hearing into activities of the universities in the conduct of Post-UME examinations. Contributors to the motion moved by Senator Heineken Lokpobiri expressed divergent views. While a section of the Senate wanted Post-UME examinations scrapped, others insisted it was a way of filtering the best candidates for university admission.
Last Thursday, the Senate Committee on Education returned to the floor with findings of its investigation. The committee submitted that it has found that the Post-UME examinations are proper and that they do not infringe on the rights and powers of JAMB to conduct matriculation examinations.
While approving the recommendations of the Senate committee, the lawmakers however urged the universities to consider holding the UME and Post-UME examinations on week days, rather than Saturdays. The decision was reached as a way of frustrating the trend by which mercenaries are hired to write such examinations.
One other issue that has come into the fore in the JAMB/universities row over the conduct of examinations is the allegation that the universities were charging candidates heavily in order to raise funds from the Post-UME examination. The Senate adopted the report of its committee which recommended that universities must be dissuaded from exploiting candidates through the Post-UME. In adopting the report, the Senate barred universities from collecting more than N2,000 for the examination while JAMB was asked not to collect more than N4,000 per candidate.
The Senate also called attention to what is popularly known as “Miracle Centres” or JAMB special centres. The upper legislative chamber found that the conduct of Post-UME was not at variance with the laws setting up the Universities Matriculations Examinations (UME) conducted by JAMB. In effect, the Senate ratified the conduct of Post-UME and only proffered ways out of the perceived anomalies.
Also, following the adoption of the Senate committee report, the lawmakers asked JAMB to increase the penalties stipulated for anyone found guilty of examination malpractices and irregularities in its examinations. To show it was ready to bark and bite, the Senate declared its readiness to approve the suspension and possible removal of any chief executive of tertiary institutions who flout the prescribed sum for the post UME examinations. The lawmakers also declared that admission into tertiary institutions should be restricted to the capacities of the different institutions so as not to overstretch the facilities and resources.
The findings of the committee were completely at variance with the submission of most senators when the upper chamber first heard the motion on the probe of the Post-UME in October last year.  On 13 October, 2011, Senator Lokpobiri had moved a motion seeking a probe into activities of the tertiary institutions in subjecting candidates to further examinations after they might have passed the UTME. Senator Lokpobiri had observed that JAMB was empowered to conduct examinations into all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education adding that the board was also responsible for the collation and dissemination of information on matters affecting admissions into the tertiary institutions.
According to him, while JAMB had the statutory powers to conduct matriculation examinations, the universities and other tertiary institutions are empowered to conduct examinations and grant degrees, diplomas, certificates and other distinctions to anyone who has completed a course of study approved by the governing board of such institution.
The senator found it objectionable that universities now conduct Post- UME, charge fees and subject candidates to series of tests and interviews. He submitted that such examinations, apart from being at huge costs to parents and guardians, also amounts to a clear violation of the JAMB Act.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze, also submitted that the Post-UME amounts to a rip off of unsuspecting parents and guardians and that it must now be stopped. He said that the law establishing JAMB empowers it to conduct entrance examinations and not the universities. The senator indicated that “the universities are disobeying the laws of the land. They use this Post-UME to manipulate admissions and admit only those they wish to and ignore well qualified candidates.’’
According to the senator, what the country can do if it founds that the integrity of JAMB was being called to question was to overhaul the institution and prevent the universities from usurping the powers of JAMB.
Another senator who backed Ayogu Eze’s submission was Senator Nkechi Nwaogu who submitted that subjecting candidates to a second examination after the UME was unnecessary and that JAMB should be strengthened to restore public confidence.
Again, Senator Nenadi Usman added her voice, indicating that the whole concept of Post-UME was illegal and against the law. She said: “No matter how good an intention is, if is illegal, it is wrong. I believe for the universities to want to go into Post -UME, something must have gone wrong with JAMB. So if the universities see something wrong with JAMB, they should bring a bill and if it scales through, they will have a law backing their actions.’’
Between October 2011 and February 2012, the music has however changed, showing the beauty of proper investigations. The Senate had no trouble, last Thursday, approving the recommendations that both JAMB and universities have the powers to conduct examinations and that screenings by universities can only enhance the quality of intakes. This decision should lay the debate to rest.

CULLED FROM http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/politics/35929-jamb-universities-and-miracle-centres-