Hardship: UNICAL Abandons Post-UTME, Adopts O’level Point Grading

• Extends deadline for post-UTME registration to Aug 31

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT – Concerns over the current economic hardship in the country have forced the University of Calabar (UNICAL)’s authorities to cancel its 2024/2025 aptitude test for candidates seeking admission into the university this new academic session.

Popularly called Post-UTME screening, the aptitude test was earlier scheduled to flag off on Monday, August 26, 2024.

However, a circular signed by the University’s Registrar, Mr Gabriel Egbe, announced that the exercise has now been replaced with O’Level point grading system for all candidates

Titled; “Change in Mode of Admissions Screening Exercise from Aptitude Test to O’Level Point Grading System”, the circular said in cancelling the 2024/2025 Post-UTME screening exercise, the University’s management considered factors such as current high cost of transportation occasioned by fuel scarcity, accommodation, logistics and the security situation in the country.

The circular read in part; “The University of Calabar wishes to announce to the general public, that the 2024/2025 Post- UTME screening exercise earlier scheduled to commence from Monday, August 26, 2024, will no longer hold as scheduled.

“Management of the University, having taken into consideration, factors such as high cost of transportation occasioned by fuel scarcity in the country, accommodation, logistics and the security situation in the Country, has decided to cancel the 2024/2025 Post-UTME screening exercise.

“Candidates who chose the University of Calabar as their first choice institution and have registered online for the 2024 Post-UTME screening exercise, are hereby advised to visit the nearest JAMB-CBT centre to upload their O’level results. The University will score all candidates based on their O’level grades, using the point tally system for the purpose of 2024/2025 admissions”.

Meanwhile, the University has also announced a one-week extension for the Post-UTME registration on its portal, urging candidates who are yet to register to embrace this window of opportunity on or before Saturday, August 31, 2024.

This is as the institution maintained that the portal would be closed finally on 31st August 2024, with no further extension of the registration deadline.