Janet Samuel, Abuja
As the university Matriculation Examination continues across the the nation, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, has frown at the number of under age candidates participating in the examination, considering the possibility of reviewing and pegging the minimum entry age into tertiary institutions in the country to 18 years.
The Minister who made this known while monitoring the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Abuja, advised parents against pushing their children by fast tracking them in Secondary school, to allow them attain some level of maturity to be able to manage their affairs better when in tertiary institutions.
Professor Tahir said “The other thing which we notice is the age of those who have applied to go to the university. Some of them are really too young. We are going to look at it because they are too young to understand what a university education is all about.
“That’s the stage when students migrate from a controlled environment where they are in charge of their own affairs. So if they are too young, they won’t be able to manage properly. That accounts for some of the problems we are seeing in the universities, We are going to look at that, he siad”.
According to him, “18 is the entry age for university but you will see students, 15, and 16, going to the examination. It is not good for us. Parents should be encouraged not to push their wards, or children too much.”
The minister commended JAMB for a smooth and comfortable examination process, adding that the adoption of technology had helped in reducing the cases of examination practices.
“As we know this examination is going on throughout the country. It is being monitored everywhere seamlessly and from the report I have heard, the malpractice level is very low. Just a 100 out of the 1.2m. It has gone down drastically and believe that it is the use of technology that has made that happen so this is very good.”
Speaking on the high number of candidates seeking admission into the limited slots available in tertiary institutions, the Minister encouraged skills acquisition which is a critical component in preparing the youths for a brighter future.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Education, Tanko Sununu who monitored the examination at Bwari was excited at the speed and the examination standard, saying this has earned the UTME international recognition in Saudi Arabia as a result of the standards set by JAMB’s management, noting that the examination has transcended to a very high level of objectivity and reliability of results.
“Right from when the candidates arrive, they would be seated comfortably in the waiting room, screening and other necessary instructions will be given and they will proceed to do biometrics.
“The speed in the centre is really excellent; pages are turned when candidates need them without any delay of booting.”
“I am not surprised that JAMB has to go outside Nigeria to other countries to conduct exams. They are in Saudi Arabia and right now the exam is also going on in Saudi Arabia. I have not heard people complaining of answers leaked, it shows that with online exams we can do a lot,” the Minister added.
