The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Chairman, University Pre-Admission Screening Exercise (UPASE), Federal University of Technology, Minna, Prof. Oluwole Olakanmi Morenikeji has reiterated the institution’s preparedness to go ahead with the 2017/2018 pre-admission exercise
despite the strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the non-academic staff of the University.
The don disclosed this during an exclusive interview with Campus News in his office at the Senate Building, Main Campus on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 to appraise the level of preparations ahead of the forthcoming screening exercise.
Prof. Morenikeji stated that the University Management has concluded all logistical arrangements needed to conduct another hitch-free screening exercise that has been the tradition of the institution while expressing optimism that the on-going strike action would not affect the exercise since the Post UTME candidates are not yet bonifide students of the University.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) disclosed that the University would employ the services of corps members who are serving in the institution to conduct the exercise and other people who have agreed to assist the University during the exercise, adding that since the examination is computer based, there would be no need for many invigilators.
“Those who are willing to assist us to conduct the exercise will be contracted and they will be paid for the job. So, I do not see any problem why the screening exercise will not hold as scheduled”, the DVC (Academic) enthused.
The Chairman UPASE, said the corps members have been trained on the procedures for the screening exercise while revealing that the University is expecting 10, 000 candidates for the exercise and that over 7, 000 candidates have concluded their registrations as at Wednesday, September 13, 2017. He further maintained that the deadline for registration for the screening exercise remains 12 midnight of September 15, 2017 as advertised by the University and that failure to register for the exercise online before the schedule time would amount to disqualification.
On the facilities on ground for the exercise, the Professor of Urban and Regional Planning said the University has increased the number of computers at the Electronic Test Centre from 400 computers to 800 computers so that the exercise would only take four bashes per day instead of eight bashes that was used last year.
He stated that the University would only accept Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results and O’ Level results downloaded directly from the websites of the various examination bodies and reiterated that the University minimum entry requirements still remain five O’ Level credits including Mathematics and English Language obtained at not more than two sittings in subjects relevant to their proposed courses.
On the controversy surrounding the 120 cut-off marks set by Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Morenikeji said it was not JAMB that set the cut-off score rather the decision was taken by all vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts who were at the meeting, adding that it is the prerogative of University Senate to set cut-off marks.
He noted that admission into FUT, Minna is straight-forward and transparent, saying that candidates does not need to know anybody before they can get admission into the University rather their performance at the screening exercise would get them admission.
He, however, warned staff who are in the habit of soliciting for money from candidates and parents for admission to desist from such act as the University would not tolerate any act of admission racketeering while disclosing that JAMB has introduced a software to conduct the admission processes electronically and that human-interface has been removed.
“The University will not entertain any admission request from anybody this year because that is what some people use to extort money from candidates and parents”, he stated.
Prof. Morenikeji appealed to the candidates to cooperate with the officers in charge towards ensuring timely conclusion of the exercise.Labels: Campus News
