Education stakeholders are urgently advocating for the complete scrapping of the Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME). They argue that the practice of supplementary testing undermines efforts to enhance fair access to quality higher education across the country.
The Post-UTME is an institutional screening or interview administered to candidates after the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). These additional checks vary by institution and can include aptitude tests or online verification exercises.
Despite the federal government officially abolishing the controversial examination in 2016, the ban failed to fully eliminate the practice. Many tertiary institutions continue to implement different forms of screening or interviews, creating a major policy loophole that frustrates candidates.
The government action aims to end the stress and financial burden on candidates and improve confidence in JAMB’s examination.
In this regard, the stakeholders, including educationists, parents, activists, and students, dismissed Post-UTME as counterproductive and inimical to sustainable education development.
The stakeholders spoke in separate interviews in Bauchi, Dutse, and Gombe while reacting to a survey on the imperative of the Post-UTME by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
They argued that the Post-UTME test puts too much pressure on students and makes the admission process cumbersome.
Dr Langa Hassan of the Department of Physics, Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, said students are being exposed to stress and risks in traveling to sit for the Post-UTME exam in areas outside their places of residence.
He stressed the need for universities that prioritised the Post-UTME tests, to adopt effective online examination modules, to cut costs and reduce stress for the applicants.
“The current system is cumbersome, and many students go through it only to end up without getting admission,” he said.
Mr Muhammad Aminu, a teacher in Dutse, advised the institutions to harmonise the Post-UTME test, to ease the burden on candidates.
“There is either state or federal university or other institutions of higher learning in each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). So, they can make arrangements for a unified examination without exposing candidates to difficulties.
“For instance, the University of Lagos can conduct the examination on behalf of the Federal University Dutse in Jigawa and vice versa.
“With this, candidates who applied for admission from Lagos in the Federal University Dutse, can sit for their examination in Lagos without having to come down all the way from Lagos to Dutse.
“Also, a candidate from Dutse, who applied for admission to a university in Lagos or any other part of the country can sit for the exam in his hometown, candidates shouldn’t have to travel to far places to participate in the Post-UME examination,” he said.
Mrs Salina Moses, a mother in Gombe, said she discouraged her daughter from applying to far away universities due to high cost of transportation and insecurity.
“In 2024, my daughter travelled to ABU Zaria and sat for the Post-UTME test; she couldn’t secure admission in spite of the money spent on transportation and accommodation.
“This year, she applied to Gombe State University and got the course she wanted, even though it wasn’t her first choice.
“I advised her against trying ABU again because I couldn’t afford the cost with no guarantee of getting admission,” she said.
Miss Halima Mohammed, a candidate, who scored 228 in JAMB, said she gave up her dream of studying at ABU.
“My parents couldn’t afford the cost again after two failed attempts. I applied to a nearby university against my wish,” she said.
Mr Ahmad Saudi, a parent in Dutse, advised universities to introduce online Post-UMTE, to enable the candidates to participate in their respective locations/states, without having to attend it at the universities of their choice.
Saudi said the universities should design a different set of questions for each candidate, to guard against examination malpractice.
“I think the Post-UME exam is constitutionally baseless, however, it is a way the universities test the capability of candidates seeking admission, so that they will not end up admitting candidates who can’t cope after securing the admission,” Saudi said.
Mr Bulus Sebastian, a resident of Dutse, opined that the conduct of the Post-UME exam should remain in the university of the candidates’ choice, to curb examination malpractice.
“If universities allow candidates to take Post-UME online, there is every likelihood that they could cheat or engage in malpractice.
“Post-UME test is very important, most students, after getting good grades in the SSCE, find it difficult to scale the university because they might have cheated to get good grades.
“It is imperative for the candidates to go for the Post-UME test, this will enable the universities to admit competent students, who will not only end up with carry over, spill over or being withdrawn due to poor performances,” Sebastian said.
Accordingly; Dr Bachama Nigel, a lecturer, Department of Economics, Gombe State University, said the Post-UTME exam is crucial in checking the true ability of candidates, especially when there is a difference between JAMB scores and actual performance.
“Post-UTME helps institutions verify candidates’ competence. For instance, when someone scores high in JAMB but fails Post-UTME, it raises a red flag,” he said.
He, however, said Gombe State University previously conducted Post-UTME but stopped following a directive from JAMB, stressing that the system has both pros and cons.
“It brings out the best candidates, and also prevents some students from applying to far away universities due to lack of money and the risks involved in travelling across the country.
“Gombe State University no longer conducts Post-UTME exams in line with the changes in JAMB policy,” he said.
Also, Prof. Umaru Pate, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Kashere, said the institution subjected candidates to online screening as against conduct of the Post-UTME.
Also, Dr Murtadha Hakiki, Dean, Student’s Affairs, Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Gadau in Bauchi State, said the institution only approved online examinations for students.
He said that candidates initially sat for online exams and subsequently presented themselves for physical screening.
“We don’t mandate students to come down to the school physically for any examination.
“We conduct physical screening where some management staff will examine their appearances and certificates before clearing them.
“We involve the security personnel in case of students that may not be eventually admitted due to forgery or any other foul play.
“Although some universities are making it compulsory for candidates to come for Post-UTME physically but we don’t do that,” he said.
In the same vein; Abdulkadir Shehu of the Information and Public Relations unit, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, said the institution conducts online examinations, and the successful candidates present themselves for physical screening.
He said the Federal Ministry of Education allowed universities to either go for online screening or Post-UTME.
“We go for the online screening after which the candidates come for physical verification and screening.
Mr Tenimu Gambo, Assistant Information/Public Relations Officer, Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi also said the Post-UTME examination could be written by candidates anywhere.
He said that successful candidates were being notified to proceed to the institution for physical screening.
“This is to verify that you met the admission criteria, and you can proceed with registration and make the necessary payments.
“Students shouldn’t risk stress in this digital age to write the Post-UTME exam physically,” he said.
On his part, Bunmi Adetoye, a lecturer, described examinations as a critical aspect of the Nigerian education system in spite of significant challenges.
To address the challenges, Adetoye urged educational institutions to explore alternative examination formats such as computer-based test, to reduce cost, improve safety and curb malpractices.
“Examinations are a crucial part of Nigeria’s education system, it’s essential to acknowledge the challenges associated with it, and work towards finding solutions that prioritise students’ safety, wellbeing, and academic integrity,” he said
