Educationist Hails Ojerinde’s Removal As JAMB Boss

The removal of Prof. Dibu Ojerinde as the registrar of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been lauded by an educationist, Mr Samuel Amadi.

Mr Amadi described Ojerinde’s removal by the Federal Government as a welcomed idea, saying the examination body was becoming a confused agency with its controversial initiatives.

Speaking on Friday in Enugu, Mr Amadi, who is the proprietor of a private secondary, said the recent withdrawal of the 2016 JAMB admission list was very embarrassing.

“Today you will hear that JAMB has sent 2016 admission lists to universities, polytechnic and colleges of education, the next day, what you will hear is that the list has been withdrawn,” he said.

Continuing, he said that, “At a point candidates are told to submit identification letter from their local government of origin, first school living certificate and secondary school testimonial.”

This directives and counter directive, he said, made candidates and their parents more confused of what had become of admission process to tertiary institutions.

He urged the new registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to urgently restore the confidence of Nigerians in JAMB.

“It’s as result of lost confidence in JAMB by higher institutions that led to post-UTME by tertiary institutions in the country,” he said.

Amadi, however, urged the government to rescind its decision to scrap Higher National Diploma (HND) in polytechnic in the country.

According to him, the decision if implemented will reduce the number of people that will gain admission in universities and a hindrance to those who prefer polytechnic education.

“Not everybody wants to go to the university, some prefer polytechnic education.

“This idea by Federal Government to merge polytechnics with universities and scrap HND may not be the best.

“Instead government should separate course meant for polytechnic and university by ensuring that all skill-based courses go for polytechnic and other for university to fast track development in the country.

“Federal Government should reconsider its decision in the interest of tertiary education in the country,” he said.

The Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, had said that Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the scrapping of HND in polytechnics.

Adamu said this was part of comprehensive measure to boost tertiary education sector in the country.