Government Considers Tighter Tertiary Education Entry Rules Amid Rising Demand for UTME Admissions
Only 20% of the individuals participating in the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will receive admission into universities, polytechnics, and institutes of education across Nigeria, according to the Federal Government’s recent declaration.
Furthermore, the government is considering changing the age criterion for admission into postsecondary institutions, perhaps setting the minimum age at 18.
On Monday in Abuja, Education Minister Prof. Tahir Mamman provided these insights while overseeing the current UTME, accompanied by Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
A total of 1.9 million applicants have enrolled for the test, which started on April 19 and will finish on April 29, 2024.
Mamman expressed apprehensions about parents who overly exert pressure on their children, proposing that they should let their children have the opportunity to develop and handle their own matters independently.
He observed the limitations in the ability of public tertiary institutions to accommodate students, as well as the obstacles faced by private colleges in meeting their admission targets due to exorbitant tuition rates.
Mamman emphasized the importance of skill acquisition for young people’s growth and employability, given the large number of applicants competing for restricted positions in higher education.
He said that around 20% of applicants would be admitted, while the other 80% would have to pursue different routes. He stressed the need to impart skills throughout the educational process, allowing pupils to live purposeful lives even in the absence of further education.
Mamman also emphasized the age of students who are applying to universities, claiming that some of them are too young to fully comprehend the requirements of higher education.
He proposed a possible amendment to the age criteria, given that the existing minimum age for admittance is 18; however, some applicants as young as 15 and 16 are trying the test. Mamman advised parents against exerting undue pressure on their children.
The Minister commended JAMB for the seamless conduct of the test, crediting the achievement to the use of technology and its contribution to curbing instances of examination misconduct. He emphasized that JAMB documented only 100 instances of misconduct out of the 1.2 million applicants, a significant decrease.
Dr. Tanko Sununu, the Minister of State for Education, commended the efforts of JAMB in organizing examinations on a worldwide scale, including in Saudi Arabia.
This showcases the trustworthiness and exceptional quality of the examination procedure.
In addition, he praised the effectiveness and anti-fraud measures used, such as the use of diverse questions and subjects for neighboring candidates. Sununu’s remarks emphasized the advancements in JAMB’s administration and the efficiency of online examinations.
Government Considers Tighter Tertiary Education Entry Rules Amid Rising Demand for UTME Admissions