A former Dean of Law at the University of Uyo, Mr. Udombana recently in an interview said that the poor standard of education in Nigeria's higher institutions is not a function of the university alone but that of the faulty admission policy that has been used for a long time now.
According to him, the admission policy has not been merit-based as it has allowed students who fall below mark to be admitted.
“For instance, the admission policy during the past two decades has not been merit-based. Under the current policy as coordinated by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, admission on merit is only 45 percent of the totality of admission into any faculty".
“This means that if a department is to admit, for instance a hundred students, only 45 will be admitted on the basis of hierarchical score from the UME and Post UME examinations,” he remarked.
He also pointed to students being admitted on the basis of educationally disadvantage states, federal character principle and catchment areas for admission as another reason for the poor educational standard as the introduction of such criteria has brought in mediocrity considering the fact that students admitted on such basis lacks what it takes to cope with the demands of learning.
He however, called for the convocation of a national summit on education that will bring stakeholders together to deliberate on the issues posing challenges to the education sector and proffer solutions.
