Bwari (FCT) – The Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Tuesday said it
remitted N7.8 billion to Federal Government
coffers from 2016 University and Tertiary
Matriculation Examinations (UTME).
The board’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede,
made this known when a delegation from
National Officers Council of Colleges of
Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) paid
a visit to the board in Bwari, FCT.
Oloyede, who dismissed the speculated N5.2
billion as amount remitted to Federal
Government during the period under review, said
“the board paid in N7.8 billion to Federal
Government and not N5.2 billion.”
He said the board would work to ensure that it
met the needs of the sector and strive
to sustain education standard in the country.
He called for cooperation from stakeholders in
the education sector to further raise standard,
saying “let us work together and push
government to do the needful so that education
would be where it ought to be.
“When we identify obstacles, we could push
government to amend some areas
to enhance the sector.
“I do not see why we should have more than
four credits before one can get into
college of education, forgetting that it created an
opportunity for people like us in the past.
“I assure you that UTME score does not
determine the quality of one’s education; it is
the environment that makes the difference
obvious by segregating institutions.”
Oloyede challenged the officers on the need to
officially make a case for National Council of
Education, which he said was made up of
commissioners of education, to review the
number of credits to be attained by intending
candidates of colleges of education.
He said the board would not hesitate to work
with unions to set up a Task Force that would
check irregularities that may cripple the sub-
sector.
Earlier, the President of COEASU, Mr Nuhu
Ogirima, said that the challenge had
been an obstacle to admission status of
colleges nationwide.
He called for review of the current application
process into colleges of education, saying “a
review is imperative, given the fact that the
current application process
predisposes candidates toward university
education.
“Notwithstanding the overwhelming preference
for admission into university, the provision for
college of education as third choice in JAMB
sought to obscure the system from others.
“After the selection of the very best from the first
choice list, colleges of education are left with no
choice in JAMB but the low performing
candidates and this does not augur well for the
teacher education system.
“The union would, therefore, appreciate if JAMB,
without prejudice to her establishment law,
explore the possibility of collaborating with
stakeholders in colleges of education.
“The collaboration would provide enabling
environment that could improve the admission
status of the colleges nationwide.”
He announced that the council would soon set
up a committee that would come up with
memorandum to tackle the issues before the
necessary quarters.
The meeting was attended by directors of the
board. (NAN)