Varsities defy FG on post-UTME test-By Gabriel Dike

•Ministry of Education takes final position today

Authorities of some universities have defied a Federal Government directive to stop post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions.

Daily Sun gathered that some universities have devised another means to test applicants and charge administrative fees in the process. 

Some universities are circumventing the directive by inviting applicants for admission for the 2016/2017 academic session to pay certain amount and also sit for a screening test before being considered for admission in advertisements in national newspapers.

One of the media aides to the Minister of Education, Dr. Bem Goong told Daily Sun that the proposed screening test is illegal and unacceptable as government has stopped candidates writing any form of examination in order to gain admission into tertiary institutions.

The University of Benin (UNIBEN), in an advertisement for  admission, said the screening would be computer-based and candidates are expected to pay N2, 000 and N1, 000 for past questions (optional).

UNIBEN Public Relations Officer, Mr. Michael Osasuyi justified the advertisement. He said the university management is not violating any government directive.

‘’Parents should wait for us to conduct our screening before complaining. We are in order. UNIBEN screening started from the cut-off mark. The amount we are asking candidates to pay is administrative charges for the admission exercise.’’

On its part, management of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo  is demanding N5,000 from each candidates for the screening test and that the payment form/slip would serve as entry ticket into the screening hall as well as sitting arrangement.

Acting Head of the Centre for Information, Press and Public Relations (CIPPR), Mr. Adekola said despite the advertisement published for the 2016/2017 admission exercise in a newspaper,   the institution intend to make the applicants write another examination.

The University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in its advert for the 2016/2017 admission exercise requested prospective applicants to pay N2, 000 as processing fee and for result checking and asked candidates to come to different designated venues. 

Dr. Goong said it was wrong for any university to conduct screening test as well as demand fees from prospective candidates.

Hesaid the minister will release a statement on the issue today.

institution is expected to ask prospective applicants to sit for another screening test as they are doing now. Admission is based on candidates’ performance in JAMB. The minister will release a statement on this issue on Tuesday, he explained.’’

Culled from The Sun