JAMB To Tertiary Institutions: Disclose All Illegal Admissions Now, Else…
BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has given tertiary institutions in the country one month within which disclose all admissions conducted outside its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), prior to 2017.
The Board said that it is terminating the aspect of CUIIA process which allowed completely unregistered candidates (without registration) to be introduced to the system.
JAMB said that the directive is aimed at enhancing transparency and fairness in the admissions process against the backdrop of the predilection of some institutions to admit candidates outside the approved Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) platform and the process of such by condoning illegal admissions window to accord legitimacy.
The Board Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, who gave the directive on Sunday, August 4, 2024 at a media briefing in Abuja, said that in order to curb the abused window, the JAMB has resolved that all institutions should now (or never) disclose all candidates illegally-admitted prior to 2017 whose records are in their system within the next one month beginning from 1st August, 2024.
Prof Oloyede, who was represented by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, Public Communication Advisor of for JAMB, stressed that any admission purportedly given prior to 2017 will no longer be recognised or condoned unless disclosed within this one-month window.
The JAMB boss said; “Institutions are advised to comply with this directive as there will not be any further condonement of hitherto unrecorded candidates who did not even register with JAMB not to talk of sitting for any entrance examination.
“This move is aimed at curbing illegal admissions and falsification of records, while ensuring compliance with the provisions of CAPS”.
Oloyede also said that the decision marked the end of the condonement of illegal admissions window, which previously allowed institutions to incorporate unauthorised admissions into the system.
He highlighted concerns over institutions colluding with candidates to falsify details for illegal admissions, which has led to fraudulent participation in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), adding that in spite of warnings, some institutions continue to admit candidates outside CAPS and seek condonement of undisclosed illegal institutional admissions (CUIIA).
According to Oloyede; “CAPS is the only authorized platform for admissions. Those who even have registration but were illegally admitted between the period (2017-2020) would soon be denied the opportunity of the waiver unless they are disclosed within the next one month.
“Therefore, all institutions are hereby directed to disclose, for the final time, all candidates admitted illegally within their systems. Moving forward, the Board will not tolerate any undisclosed admission by any institution,” he warned.
He also said that recent discoveries made it imperative for the Board to speak out to save the integrity of the education system.
On the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions for 2024/2025 session, JAMB said that the minimum age for admission remains 16 years.
According to Oloyede; “For the 2024 admission cycle, candidates who will be at least 16 years old at the time of admission will be considered eligible. This decision follows the directive from the Chairman of the 2024 tertiary admission policy meeting, who is also the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, that the extant policy of 6-3-3-4 be enforced only from 2025 session.
“The alarming avalanche of obviously false affidavits and upsurge of doctored upward age-adjustments on NIN slips being submitted to JAMB to upgrade recorded age is dangerous, inimical and unnecessary.
“Only those below 16 would not and should not be admitted in accordance with the decision of the 2024 Policy Meeting,” he said.
