DEJA vu!
We’ve been here before, over and over again. Each time, disapproval is
impossible to rein in. What should have been routine policy measures keep
trigger
ing off potshots. You know the story: JAMB reintroduces Post-UTME (many
candidates’ blood pressure rise at that), and cut-off mark for admission
consideration is 120 minimum (so gracious what!) That sets Nigerians off on
complaining mode again.
They say it
is “politics”, a way of squeezing money out of helpless admission-seekers, a
ploy to increase advantage of a part of the country that lacks what it takes to
compete in fair academic contest for tertiary school slots. And the hoopla goes
on, not without justification, anyway. What none of the opponents is openly
telling us: “hmm, my country-man, the way this country is eh, I don’t trust
you, you don’t trust me, so any plan you come up with, I fear, must have been
made to enrich or favour you and your people, putting me and my people at a
disadvantage.” Calamity of a nation! Hence, JAMB is confused. Not because of
incompetence, but the admission umpire is bombarded with demands from all sorts
of interest groups in high and low places, some too powerful for them to
resist.
The decision
to bring back Post-UTME tests was reached at the policy meeting on plans and
modalities for the conduct of admissions into tertiary institutions on August
22, 2017 at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja. To come off with clean
hands, escaping the usual accusation of bias, JAMB had allowed tertiary school
heads and other non-government stakeholders at the conference to decide what
UTME score should be minimum requirement. The Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board maintains that institutions’ senates retain the prerogative
to decide their own admission scores which may be higher than this
nationally-fixed minimum.
The
admission body also addressed concerns of candidates and private universities
by creating CAPS – Central Admissions Processing System – which would make it
possible for applicants rejected by their choice institutions to seek admission
elsewhere. CAPS also provides a platform for schools to go in search of
qualified candidates who in turn are free to reject the offer and have
unlimited admission options, provided they have scored the minimum 120 in
Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
Agreements
reached at that meeting should not have raised much dust if Nigerians had
trusted one another. Institutions that think they are too big to take a mere 30
per cent cut-off mark are free to set a higher requirement. Admission options
can be effectively graded: high scorers get admitted in higher-standard
institutions, while those with low scores find placement in less prominent
schools. That’s if the claim that higher UTME score equals high academic
competence holds true. Moreover, the extra admission options through CAPS
should lay to rest the problem of candidates who get jammed in JAMB every year,
simply because they could not find a place in their schools of first, second or
third choice. But no, Nigerians must kick – they always kick – even if the kick
results in stillbirth. National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
disparages the decision. NANS President, Chinonso Obasi said JAMB was lowering
standards by settling for a score that is just 30 per cent of the total 400.
He claimed
it is an unpopular policy that students will vehemently resist. But how does
this new move impinge on the right of admission-seekers who score higher? And
how does it lower the ability of universities to recruit only the best? After
all, that score is not the maximum they can take. NANS is only one of the
opponents, and each pressure group is shouting either merely to be heard or
just protecting its own part in the deal, all the while being suspicious of
others, since distrust is the norm here. Those in favour of the policy may
accuse this student body of disregarding private schools’ interest since most
officials and active members of NANS at state and national levels are from
government-owned institutions. Other interest groups have their misgivings.
In truth,
JAMB is not the problem. Distrust is the matter, while nepotism and perversion
of standards fuel this state in which nothing is ever accepted as good for all.
It’s no use arguing about effects rather than causes. We will not get out of
this quagmire anytime soon, for it takes a long time to reset minds of people
so they can believe that government and leaders of public institutions ever
have good intentions. Don’t forget that leaders in more ways than one take
dubious actions that erode public confidence. You cannot win citizens’ trust
when, as a leader, you serve the interest of one group over another. As a
consequence, people’s minds get made up to resist every decision you make. You
cannot change the people’s minds, except there are changed hearts. Positively
changed hearts give birth to altruistic actions and selfless leadership. As
people with changed hearts act unselfishly and the thing catches on, virtue
becomes the norm, then society produces leaders that can be trusted. Until
then, we must live with this burden – the burden of distrust.
When people
believe that their tribe and religion is the only good one, their minds are set
to ensure that only their own group gets the best of everything. When such
people are in charge of any public office, every decision is in favour of where
they belong. But don’t tell me that religion is the problem of Nigeria. True
religion teaches fairness to all. In James 1:27, the Bible says that “Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the father is this, to visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from
the world.” If a man holding public office withholds help from the needy and
reserves it for those of his tribe and religion, he offends God. But that is
what most of our leaders do, aided of course by ungodly followers, and that is
why the rest of the people cannot trust them. A change of heart, not changes of
policy is what citizens and leaders need.
Reduction in
cut-off marks will bring down the quality of higher institution products,
opponents say. Really? How will people who passed who passed their O’ level
exams through a culture of irregularities suddenly become shining examples of
academic excellence just because they scored high in UTME – by hook or crook.
And do not tell me that the examination has been made malpractice-proof.
Candidates – being true Nigerians – found ways to and actually beat computers
to the game of cheating in their CBTs. The problems are deep, and a deep look
into the hearts of people is required. We need a deeper conviction that comes
from something bigger than the mundane.
Should one
pontificate on honesty and patriotism and selflessness? You have heard of these
values before, but how many Nigerians really believe in them (and why should
they, when easy money, quick gain and parochial loyalty are better recognised,
even more rewarded)? The change of heart we are talking about is brought about
only by God, and a man wholly committed to God will overlook sectional approval
to do what is just and fair. God sent Jesus his Son to die for the world,
setting them free from sin and works of the flesh. Nepotism is a work of the
flesh; corruption is a work of the flesh; ethnic bias is a work of the flesh.
Those who believe in Jesus and surrender to him receive freedom from the flesh,
thus becoming good citizens who respect the law, who love others (irrespective
of religion) and who regard service in government as an opportunity to be a
blessing to other people, wherever they come from.
Therefore,
God’s hand is the best one to relieve policy-makers and the rest of us from
this burden of distrust. I challenge anyone to put forth a better option.
Esara wrote
from Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State.
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