Don’t Blame JAMB If Best Student Misses Choice Varsity — Board

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said that the best scorer in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) should not blame JAMB if the University of Lagos does not give him admission.

Recall that the Registrar of JAMB, Prof Ishaq Oloyode, said the best candidate may not be admitted in the University of Lagos, which he chose as his first choice because of age.

The 15 years-old who scored highest (347) in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) had made UNILAG as his first choice, which has 16 years as its minimum age for admission.

Briefing newsmen yesterday, the board said that university regulations on admission are not to be tampered with nor be flouted by the board or by candidates.

The board noted in Its weekly bulletin that while it was commendable that Franklin emerged the best, his “emergence should not be an excuse to flout the rules.

“It is obvious that no nation has enough spaces for every candidate aspiring for tertiary education, hence the need to define parameters to ensure that equity and fairness are engendered in the admission exercise.

“The case in point is the result of the just-concluded 2019 UTME which has thrown up Ezeunala Franklin, as the highest scorer. He had picked the University of Lagos as his first choice. Coincidentally, the University of Lagos admits only candidates who are 16 years and above. This is their rule and it is expected that the candidates and the public abide by it.

“Universities all over the world define their rules on admissions and other requirements that would enable them give their best to the public. The board should not be blamed for the age stipulation as it stated explicitly in its integrated Brochure and Syllabus System.

“The responsibility of reading the instructions should not be that of the board but of the candidates and the public.

“The board notes with dismay the pressure for it to shift the goalpost in the middle of the game by some sections of the public. It is quite commendable that Franklin emerged the best but his emergence should not be an excuse to flout the rules as other institutions whose rules differ could give him a place.”