Parents fault admission process into Unity colleges

The Chairmen, Forum of the Parent Teacher Association, PTA, of Unity Colleges in the Southwest Zone, has called for improvement in the admission process into the colleges, saying a situation where some pupils resort to cheating by writing the entrance examination into the colleges in special centres was denying brilliant and deserving ones the opportunity to attend the colleges. The forum also noted that upholding the sanctity of the entrance examinations would ensure the schools were populated by deserving students who would contribute positively to the nation’s growth.

They stated this in a statement yesterday endorsed by the chairmen of the PTA in the 19 unity colleges in the zone, including the Zonal Coordinator, Prof. Lukuman Adekilekun Jimoda, and Zonal Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Chinazum Onyenuche.

“In the light of improving the standard of education in unity schools, we urge the government to enforce a rigorous and merit-based admission process by admitting only the most brilliant and deserving students.

“It has come to our attention that some students resort to cheating centres, also known as special centres, to gain an unfair advantage during entrance examinations. We urge the examination body, the National Examinations Council, NECO, to emulate the integrity demonstrated by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, in conducting its examinations,” the forum said.

While congratulating the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, and the Minister of State, Education, Mr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, on their appointments, the group noted that a lot of work needed to be done to reposition the schools.

While decrying the deplorable condition of facilities in the schools and the dearth of teachers, the forum stated: “It is imperative to address the deplorable state of infrastructure in these unity schools. The decaying infrastructure places an extra financial burden on parents, who are often compelled to fill the gaps in maintaining the school’s facilities.

”We implore the government to take a holistic approach to funding and maintaining these institutions so as to alleviate the financial pressure and burden on parents while ensuring power and water supply is adequate. Vanguard