Ban on Post-UTME is with immediate effect – Minister

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu has reiterated the ban on the Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, otherwise known as Post-UTME, saying that the ban is with immediate effect.

He explained that although he had made this known earlier, the emphasis has become necessary in order to ensure that no stakeholder is left in doubt as to government's position on the matter.

These were contained in a press statement on Monday in Abuja by  the deputy director, Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben Bem Goong

The Post- Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is conducted by tertiary institutions for admission into universities and other higher institutions of learning in the country.

Affirming his position on the ban on Post-UTME, the minister said the responsibility for admission into public tertiary institutions lies solely with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and under no circumstance whatsoever should anybody or institution take over that responsibility by proxy.

He said, 'For the avoidance of doubt, any educational institution after secondary education is regarded as a tertiary institution. Therefore all tertiary institutions, polytechnics, Colleges of Education, universities or by whatever name it is called after secondary education must be subjected to admission through the JAMB.'

He said at the end of probationary admission by JAMB, the candidates can be cleared (screened) for final admission.

According to the Education minister, for any institution with a shortfall in admission, such institution can revert to JAMB for supplementary admission.

'Clearing in this case (screening) entails only the verification of certificates of the candidates, JAMB scores, and any other physical examination to ensure that such candidates are not cultists. After this, the candidates are qualified for matriculation.

'Such screening should be at no cost to the parents or students and should be done upon resumption in order to avoid unnecessary travels in search of admission.'

He also decried the situation where final year students in  the nation's secondary schools are subjected to too many examinations all in one year, describing it as traumatic, exploitative and absolutely unnecessary.

He said mere admission into the university does not guarantee any student the award of a degree until such a student  successfully goes through a minimum of eight examinations (for 4-year courses) or ten and twelve examinations (for 5 and 6 year courses), among other requirements. - Leadership.