FG says no basis for post-UTME, stops scratch card fee for JAMB results

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, yesterday said it was counter-productive for university applicants to take post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) after sitting for the initial UTME organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
He said government would take stiff measures against any university that admits students beyond its approved carrying capacity.
Adamu said yesterday at a JAMB stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja that it was not appropriate for universities to coerce applicants to sit for post-UTME as a condition for admission.
The minister also instructed JAMB to stop charging N1, 000 per student for scratch cards to access their examination results online.
A group of students carrying placards protested against post-UTMEs near the entrance of headquarters of the National Universities Commission (NUC), venue of the meeting.
The minister asked representatives of universities and other institutions whether they were satisfied with JAMB’s examinations and they all said they were okay. He then said: “Provided the universities are satisfied with what JAMB is doing, there is no basis for post-UTME.”
Our reporter gathered that applicants are asked to pay between N2, 500 and N20, 000 as post-UTME fees in universities. Candidates offered admission are also asked to pay N10, 000 and above as acceptance fees.
The minister said participants at the meeting should be open on the issue of UTME cut-off marks for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, adding that they shouldn’t go below 180 marks for universities.
He said no higher institution should increase its admission quota without the knowledge of the regulating agencies and should desist from asking JAMB to raise their quotas. He said the ministry would penalize any institution that violated its orders.