darrytoz:
Good day to the esteemed Judges, erudite coordinators, fellow debaters, and the informed spectators. I am Darrytoz, the second speaker of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. I stand to oppose the motion: SHOULD POST UTME EXAMINATION BE CONDUCTED IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES?



Before the emergence of Post UTME, JAMB was the only body backed by law to conduct matriculation examination for all our tertiary institutions. All candidates who are successful in JAMB's examination are given direct admission into their respective schools of choice.

In 2005, however, Post UTME was introduced by Mrs Chinwe Obaji, the then minister for education. The main reason asserted was that "JAMB UTME has become vulnerable to malpractices and it is no longer dependable." But the question is: if JAMB has become vulnerable, can't it be re-strengthened? Can't means be devised to make JAMB more effective and free of malpractices? What is the assurance that the so called Post JAMB would not be bastardized (that is if it has not even been bastardized)? Because cases abound of how candidates see Post UTME questions days before the exam and how mercenaries sit on behalf of some candidates.


Post UTME, since its inception, has not been justifiable and should not be allowed to continue. Many students have lost their lives to ghastly road accident while traveling for the so called Post UTME. Many were denied admission, even after passing the so beautifully painted Post UTME. Our tertiary institutions have turned it to a money making enterprise and it has given corruption a more solid root in our already unbecoming education sytem.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, has lamented severally that tertiary institutions have turned the Post UTME screening to a money-making venture. The House of Representatives committee on education in their oversight visits to educational agencies learned that the introduction of Post UTME in our tertiary institution is subjective, stressful, and exploitative on parents and candidates, and therefore an aberration, and so, ordered the Federal Ministry of Education and National Universities Commission (NUC) to, as matter of urgency, abolish Post UTME in the Nation's tertiary institutions. but unfortunately, the order is yet to be effected as directed.

Also, some years back, during the 33rd and 34th convocation ceremony of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, the late former President of Nigeria, Musa Yar'Adua, through the Director of Tertiary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Emmanuel Okon, remarked that the post UTME may be cancelled if complaints against its conduct by students, parents, and guardians persist. Of course! No parent is happy with the way their wards are being stressed and subjected to the risk of traveling in the name Post UTME.

Tertiary institutions in countries like England, America, South Africa, and even Ghana, do not go through such long process, yet, they have a proficient and formidable education system. They do not center their education on massive examinations, yet, they produce better graduates than we do. Nigeria should learn and follow the foot steps of these countries. A good educational system is not the one centered on massive examinations; but on quality teaching, modern facilities, and conducive academic environment.


In conclusion, Post UTME should be jettisoned and matriculation examination should be left solely to JAMB. JAMB should be re-fortified and the law governing examination malpractice should be made more effective. Any candidate found engaging in examination malpractice should be properly prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others. Also, If our tertiary institutions feel they can conduct malpractice-free examination, they should join hands with JAMB and assist the body in conducting its UTME rather than making admission process bulky and cumbersome for candidates with Post UTME. Thank you.

Reference
en.wikipedia.org
the JAMB ACT
vanguard newspaper june 20, 2012
www.nigeriahomepage.biz