...Warns Against Sharp Practices
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has, once again, reiterated its commitment to the task of ensuring that all the over 700 returnee students from war-torn Sudan, who are seeking admissions into Nigerian universities, are absorbed.
The Registrar gave this assurance during a meeting with representatives of the Association of Concerned Parents of Nigerian Student Returnees from Sudan (ACPNSRS) on Wednesday, 30th August, 2023, at Registrar’s Liaison Office, Federal Secretariat, Abuja.
According to him, as the nation’s admission clearing house, the Board would do all that is necessary to ensure that these returnee students who have requisite qualifications are accommodated withing the Nigerian education system.
He also called on the Association to ensure that all the affected students possess authentic certificates as the Board would not condone any sharp practices in the nation’s admission value chain.
The Registrar, while reassuring the forum of the Board’s full support, expressed the resolve of its management to integrate the returnees to universities of their choice.
He urged the parents to take cognisance of the various advisories on procedures for applying for foreign inter-university transfers for old students, to mention but a few. Prof. Oloyede pointed out that the advisories were follow-up to the series of high-level consultations with the Federal Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission(NUC)and other critical agencies of government, Vice Chancellors of Nigerian universities and other stakeholders on the issue of re-absorption of returnee students, who are caught up by civil strifes in foreign lands.
He noted that, as part of the Board’s determination to ensure the absorption of these returnee students, the Board’s Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System(IBASS), had been adjusted to accommodate the peculiarities of these returnees. He added that any student, who has neither completed the university transfer form nor follow all the guidelines that have been made available to them will not be captured by IBASS. Furthermore, he explained that any admission done outside CAPS would not be condoned by the Board and would pose serious problems for such students in the long run.
He, therefore, enjoined the parents to follow due process at all times. Earlier, the spokesperson of the forum, Hajia Asmau Yerima, commended the Board for honoring their request for a meeting. She then outlined the reasons for the meeting, which, according to her, included but not limited to, the issue of rejected application of their wards by some universities.
Going forward, Hajia Yerima appealed to the Board to make available a dedicated window wherereturnee students would be able to make changes in their choices of institutions at any CBT centre.
In addition, she also sought special waiver for 100L students, who had left the country before the 2023 UTME was conducted adding that, in most cases, theydo not have any transcripts from their previous universities to present.
She also mentioned the reason of inadequate quota cited by some institutions as an excuse for not admitting their wards. Consequently, the forum sought clarification as to who was in charge of approving admissions between JAMB and the universities.
She stated that other stumbling blocks in the paths of returnee students included the various stringent entry requirements put in place by some institutions, as well as the charging of exhobitant fees, among others.
Hajia Yerima also raised the issue of the inability of returnee students to receive relevant acknowledgment and notifications at a point in time, stating, however, that the problem has been resolved by JAMB.Highlights of the meeting was the presentation of an award of excellence to the Registrar, Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede, for his landmark achievements in JAMB, the education sector and his unwavering support for the re-integration of returnee students into the Nigerian educational system.
