Jamb-Need for clarity

Professor Oluyemisi Obilade wrote:
The JAMB ADMISSION ISSUE: A NEED FOR CLARITY.
Some of us who were physically present at the JAMB Policy meeting owe it a duty
to clarify issues and right some wrongs in the reportage of the meeting. It is a pity
that the personality and position of the incumbent Registrar, Prof Oloyede, is being
unfairly vilified when he should be commended. These are the facts as observed and
as stated to us at the meeting.
1. JAMB was established at the instance of 13 Vice Chancellors some decades
ago to stream-line the process of admission and eliminate the duplication of
entrance examinations to universities.
2. JAMB, by the edict establishing it, is supposed to confine itself to the conduct
of examinations and release of results to the universities.
3. The Senate of each university is then expected to decide on the admission
criteria and CUT OFF MARKS. Please note that the Senate of the university
is the highest body empowered to make policies/pronouncements on
academic matters. They award the degrees.
4. Over the years however, JAMB, had exceeded its mandate and sought to take
over the roles of the university Senate. It came to a head last year when JAMB
forwarded the lists of students admitted to each university. Of course this was
strongly resisted by most Vice-Chancellors, including yours sincerely. Last
time I checked, TASUED is fully owned by the Government and people of
Ogun State, and no parastatal in Abuja, will be permitted to act as if it
owns/operates TASUED. This is the background of what brought in Prof
Oloyede as the new Registrar.
5. Since he came on board, he has tried to address the issues and correct
anomalies observed. It was in the process of doing this that certain decisions
were taken.
a) The power to 'fully own' the admission process was transferred back
to the Senate of each university, where it rightly belongs. Each
university now has some freedom to decide it's cut-off point, with a
proviso that none should go below 120, which was the lowest
submission. Most universities are sticking to 170-200 cut-off mark.
b) All admission processes should be placed on the table of public
scrutiny and there should be no 'under the table' admission which is
then covered later by regularisation through JAMB. The Registrar
said he was shocked by the huge number of students who had not
taken the JAMB exam and we're surreptitiously admitted by some
universities. He said this has to stop from this session.
6. Prof Oloyede has computerised the admission process to make it more
inclusive, open and interactive. Applicants now have the opportunity to track
their admission status and accept /reject courses offered whilst being
considered by other universities who now have access to data of ALL
applicants.
7. Prof Oloyede has shown uncommon courage in exposing and addressing the
anomalies of the past. Please remember that he also returned over 5 billion
Naira to the coffers of the Federal Government, an amount which the Minister
of Education said was higher than the sum total amount paid by JAMB since
its establishment. I believe the criticism of Prof Oloyede is unfair and could
dampen his enthusiasm for the job. He should be commended not
condemned. Please note that I am not Prof Oloyede's spokesperson neither
does he know of this submission. But I was at the meeting and I felt a need
to clarify issues.
All it takes for evil to thrive is for good people to keep silent. Good day my learned professionals on this platform. Forgive whatever shortcomings in this post, I am just teacher, but a trained journalist