Post-UME screening to continue — VC

07.05.2008

THE Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Ilochi Okafor, on Tuesday, justified post-University Matriculation Examination (UME) screening for candidates seeking admission into the universities.

He said most candidates, who passed through the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to gain admission had been discovered to be deficient in their subject areas when put to test.

Okafor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka that “in the 2005/2006 admission, we conducted a post-UME screening for our candidates and made some startling discoveries.

“The outcome of the exercise confirmed the negative correlation between some very high scores in the UME and the ability of candidates with such high scores to pursue university education.

“For instance, candidates with seemingly good scores to pursue a career in medicine could not state the major differences between a man and a plant.

“Some others in the sciences and engineering could not spell "Boyles" in Boyles law; stating the law correctly was another problem. “Our students are still poor in communication skills, this is a good pointer to the fact that the training in the secondary schools should be improved upon,” he said.

He, however, said his administration involved students in matters of welfare. These, he said, included collection and disbursement of development levy, transport levy committee, hostel management and scholarship scheme for the disabled students.