The conduct of post-UTME by some Nigerian universities has continued to stir controversy, with many stakeholders describing it as a “legalised extortion.”
Parents and university administrators in Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu aired their differing opinions in separate interviews with NAN.
Some argued that the continued administration of the additional entrance test was an unnecessary burden on parents and students.
They noted that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, conducted annually by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was sufficient to test the aptitude of candidates and determine their eligibility for admission into tertiary institutions.
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The post-UTME was introduced in 2005 after concerns over examination malpractices in JAMB’s paper-based tests.
Proponents argued that it provided universities with an additional filter to assess candidates’ competence.
But the transition of JAMB to a fully computer-based testing system in 2013 has addressed most of those concerns, putting under question the continued relevance of the post-UTME.
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In Ebonyi, Chukwu Ogamdi, a parent, described the post-UTME as “a revenue-generating scheme rather than an academic necessity” and called on the federal government to scrap it.
“Universities should stop this duplication of exams. JAMB is competent enough to handle admission tests and its computer-based system is transparent and credible,” Ogamdi said.
Lizzy Nwafor, a student seeking admission into one of the federal universities, said the post-UTME has discouraged many young Nigerians from pursuing higher education.
“After struggling with the UTME, you are faced with another exam and more money to pay. For many of us from poor backgrounds, it is disheartening. The government should intervene to protect students,” she said.
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Emmanuel Okorie, a civil society activist, said the essence of JAMB is being undermined by the persistence of post-UTME.
He further called on the federal ministry of education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to abolish the practice.
“JAMB was established to unify admission processes. Allowing universities to conduct another test is like saying JAMB is not competent. It creates confusion, wastes resources, and opens the door to exploitation,” Okorie argued.
Nkeiruka Akam, a secondary school teacher, noted that the post-UTME policy had outlived its usefulness.
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“The noble purpose of post-UTME has been defeated. Today, it is about money, not merit,” she said.
MIXED OPINIONS FROM VARSITY ADMINISTRATORS
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Charles Igwe, the admission officer at Peaceland University in Enugu, said the university does not conduct post-UTME for its students but depends on students given to them by JAMB.
He, however, hedged that universities conducting post-UTME are not necessarily trying to discredit JAMB.
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The officer said some students often try to outsmart the UTME system, citing reports of impersonation during conduct of JAMB’s exam.
“Based on this, some universities, in addition to JAMB results, conduct the post-UTME to at least find out whether it is true that those were the students who have the results they own,” he said.
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Patrick Ugwu, the registrar of the university, said the public universities such as UNN, ESUT, and other big universities had large number of student applicants.
He said the introduction of post-UTME helped those universities to, at least, take those who really merit their admissions.
“So, it is the university that is using that medium to take those who really merited their admission because the number is always too high to be absorbed,” he stressed.
“If the university has a regulated quota for a particular course, it will be difficult to take all the students.”
MarySylvia Nwachukwu, the deputy vice chancellor (Academics) at the Godfrey Okoye University, said the university does not conduct post- UTME but believes in the student’s qualifications.
“We don’t do exam after JAMB as we believe that when a candidate is qualified, he or she should be admitted,” he said.
TEACHERS, PARENTS ASK FG TO SCRAP POST-UTME
Darlington Nweze, a secondary school teacher, said student can pass JAMB’s UTME but still fail university test based on the questions.
“Universities should focus on teaching the ones admitted by JAMB in their various courses, rather than conducting another exam because it is just a means to raising revenue,” Nweze said.
A parent, Blessing Ani, noted that some students would score high grade in JAMB but would not obtain half of the grade in the post UTME screening exam.
A cross section of residents of Nsukka, Enugu state, said they supported the use of JAMB scores by candidates for admissions.
They called on both federal and sate governments to ban universities from using post-UTME as a prerequisite for admissions into tertiary institutions.
Titus Idu, the proprietor of Future Leaders Academy Secondary School Nsukka, called for the government’s intervention on the matter through national assembly legislation.
“Government should decide whether to use UTME conducted by JAMB or post-UTME conducted by tertiary institutions for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria,” he said.
Florence Ogbonna, a guardian, said that government should consider the risk and financial expenses by candidates traveling long distances to write post-UTME screenings.
“What pains me most is that parents after paying for post-UTME screening and their children traveling far distance would end up not getting the admission due to some flimsy excuses,” she said.
“What these institutions are after is to get their money from the candidates and after that they will admit the number they want.”
VARSITIES IN ANAMBRA ADOPT VIRTUAL POST-UTME
Major universities including Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Paul University, and several private institutions across Anambra have adopted online screening for student admissions.
The parents and students said the shift from physical post-UTME exams to online screening reduced stress, saved costs, and improved accessibility for applicants nationwide.
Ngozi Ezenwa, a parent resident in Oyo state whose son applied to NAU, described it as a welcome relief.
“When his elder brother applied to NAU in 2017, he traveled from Oyo to Awka and spent several days dealing with registration procedures, securing accommodation and sitting for the exams,” she said.
“I could not travel with him because of work. We spent so much on transport, accommodation, feeding and even phone calls just to stay in touch; all for a simple screening exercise.
“With the online system, my son paid the sum of N2,000 and got everything done at a cyber cafe with less anxiety.”
University administrators said the decision to adopt online screening was driven by years of logistical difficulties in organising the post-UTME exams.
Harrison Madubeze, PRO at COOU, said that admission screening now relied on JAMB scores and O’Level results to determine the internal cut-off marks.
“COOU stopped requiring prospective students to sit for the post-UTME examination five years ago. The university now uses the results uploaded by students to determine the internal cut-off marks,” he said.
“There was no specific reason given for scrapping the physical post-UTME, but I believe many institutions abandoned it due to logistical challenges and the burden of organising the exams.”
Chris Abakare, a professor at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, said the institution stopped conducting physical post-UTME tests in 2020 to cut logistical and financial costs.
“The process of setting questions, printing, securing CBT centers and mobilising invigilators was resource-intensive. To maximise cost, the university adopted an online screening system,” he said.
“Applicants now register on the university portal, submitting their JAMB scores and O-Level results. An aggregate score, based on both, determines eligibility. Only those who meet or exceed departmental cut-off marks are offered provisional admission.”
While some stakeholders have argued that scrapping the post-UTME could incentivise backdoor admissions, they agree that online screening can reduce stress, save cost, and ensure fairness if well-managed.
