Post-UME Screening Examination in Nigerian Universities: The University of Education, Ikere- Ekiti (Tunedik) Experience

Introduction Like other countries, Nigeria has a body that regulates educational qualifying examinations. Four prominent public examination bodies in Nigeria are the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), headed by Professor Dibu Ojerinde, the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB), headed by Professor David Awambor, the National Examination Council (NECO), headed by Professor Promise Okpala, and the West African Examination Council (WAEC), headed by Dr. Iyi Uwadiae (Idoko 2008). It is mandatory that candidates seeking admission to any of the university in Nigeria, whether federal, state, or private, take and pass the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Examination before being considered for the Post-University Matriculation Examination screening, conducted by each university before the admission of these who qualify or pass. TUNEDIK The University of Education, Ikere-Ekiti (TUNEDIK) was established in 2007 by the administration of Governor (Engr) Adebayo Segun Oni of Ekiti State, Nigeria and approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) on January 20, 2008 as the 31st state university and the 92nd university in Nigeria. (Ogunyemi 2008). Universities in Nigeria The Federal Military Government in Nigeria established six additional universities in 1976 in addition to the seven existing ones (Idoko (2008). The number of universities and degree-awarding institutions in Nigeria date has increased considerably. The list as contained in the 2008 JAMB Brochure includes: * Federal Universities 16 * Universities of Agriculture 24 * Federal Universities of Technology 5 * State Universities 21 * Universities of Education 27 * State Universities of Technology 4 * Private Universities 41 * Other Degree Awarding Institutions 19 * Total 92 History of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Prior to the establishment of JAMB in 1978, each university was responsible for the conduct of its own concessional examination and admitted its own students. This system had serious limitations and was inefficient. The committee of Vice-Chancellors was concerned about this problem. Consequently, the government set up a National Committee on University Entrance Examination under the Chairmanship of Mr. M. S. Angulu and that Committee recommended setting up JAMB. In 1987, the Board performed the exemplary feat of printing examination materials in Nigeria. Since then, the Board's question papers have always been produced and answer scripts processed in Nigeria (Idoko 2008). JAMB has introduced e-registration to reduce stress and replace the cumbersome process of registration, in which candidates have to travel to purchase and submit JAMB forms. Other problems included locating examination centers and accessing results. Introduction of Post-UME Screening by Universities Amatareotubo (2006) describes how the federal government of Nigeria introduced the policy of Post-JAMB screening by universities in 2005, through the Minister of Education, Mrs. Chinwe Obaji. This policy made it mandatory for all tertiary institutions to screen candidates after their JAMB results and before giving admission. Candidates with a score of 200 and above would be shortlisted by JAMB and their names and scores sent to their universities of choice which would screen again using aptitude tests, oral interviews, or even another examination. Obaji asserts that some candidates scored 280 and above in JAMB but could not score 20 percent in the post-JAMB examination, believing that those students must have cheated on their JAMB examinations and could not pass the Post-JAMB examination because there was no way to cheat. Literature Review Scholars have argued for and against the Post-Universities Matriculation Examination (UME) in Nigerian universities. …