ASUU Strike: JAMB Sells New Forms Despite Botched Admission Process

Public university lecturers have been on strike for five months with
no sign of a resolution to the crisis.
But the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has added a new twist
to the case, with its commencement of sale of forms to candidates
seeking admission into tertiary institutions next year.
This is happening when most universities are yet to conclude their
admission process for the 2013/2014 academic year, while others are
still in the process of registration.
Therefore, some Nigerians have questioned JAMB's decision when a set
of fresh students are still awaiting their first lectures at the
affected universities.
Ms. Taiwo Ogunyale and her fellow freshers are one week into their
registration at the University of Lagos, Akoka. Ogunyale, who was
admitted to study Microbiology, criticised JAMB's sale of new forms,
saying it could lead to a backlog of candidates awaiting admission
into universities.
"Selling forms at this time when universities are still on strike is
not that good. So I don't think it will help matters because most
universities are not ready to admit new students. It will only lead to
a backlog," she said.
In 2013, a total of 1,503,931 candidates sat for JAMB's Unified
Tertiary Matriculation Examinations. In the previous year, 1,493,604
candidates sat for the examination.
Meanwhile, it is expected that at least, 1,500,000 candidates would
sit for the examination slated for April 2014.
Considering the sheer size of candidates sitting for the examination
annually, many identified the expected financial gains as a major
factor responsible for JAMB's decision.