‘Corps members’ call-up now tied to JAMB admission’

NYSC Director-General, Brig. General Nnamdi Okore-Affia

The National Youth Service Corps on Wednesday said  only eligible graduates, who pass through duly accredited, full-time courses from higher institutions, would be mobilised for participation in the forthcoming 2013 Batch ‘A’ scheme, scheduled for between March 6 and 26.

Already, the NYSC has started collaborating with relevant regulatory organisations of corps producing institutions, such as the National Universities Commission for universities and degree-awarding institutions, and the National Board for Technical Education for monotechnics/polytechnics and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

A statement bythe Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. General Nnamdi Okorie-Affia, in Abuja said any prospective corps member, whose admission status was not known to JAMB, would be deemed to have been improperly admitted.

He said, “Accordingly, the data of all prospective corps members, as submitted for mobilisation by their respective institutions, are subjected to screening for conformity with the requirements of these regulatory/examination bodies.

“In this regard, all prospective corps members whose admissions are not known to JAMB will be deemed to be improperly admitted. The admission status of such students will require the affected CPIs to regularise same with JAMB. Similarly, all CPIs have been advised to abide by the  extant admission quota approved by the NUC and NBTE respectively in making submission for mobilisation.

“Any submission in excess of quotas approved will not be accepted.  Graduates of courses not duly accredited by these regulatory bodies will not be mobilised for service.”

The NYSC noted that “the regularisation of admissions with JAMB is the duty of the CPIs; the confirmation of approved admission quota for each course and the determination of their accreditation status is the prerogative of the regulatory bodies – NUC and NBTE”.

Okorie-Affia added, “It is imperative to state that the NYSC will not act as a liaison office between the CPIs and these regulatory/examination bodies.”

UNIBEN admits 5,915, warns against indecent dressing

The University of Benin, Benin City on friday  admitted five thousand, nine hundred and fifteen students  after subscribing to relevant matriculation oath for the 2012/2013 academic session.

Prof. Osayuki Oshodin, Vice- Chancellor of the University at the ceremony charged the matriculating students to be loyal and true to the matriculation oath of obedience and respect to the authority of the University that has offered them admission.

He admonished them to protect and guard their new status jealously, and avoid any unwholesome behavior that may pose threat to the peace and progress of the University.

While administering the matriculation oath, Prof. Oshodin said the University administration frowns at the indecent clothes many of the female students put on in the name of fashion.

He said the attitude is disgusting as it has been identified to be one of the major factors responsible for cases of sexual harassment experienced by students.

The Vice- Chancellor therefore wish that the female students will always appear responsible at all gatherings.

Advising the students against Examination malpractice, that is a serious misconduct in the institution, Prof. Oshodin said the University authority has zero tolerance for such nefarious act, and its ready at all time to apply appropriate sanctions against offenders.

“The burning issues of cultism is of great concern to the University. I know some of you may have been initiated into one cult group or the other before you gained admission into this institution, let it be know to you that the our security network will fish you out”.

JAMB and Computer- Based UTME

The decision of the House of Representatives to reject the plan by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to use Computer-Based Test (CBT) method for some of the candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) this year is timely and well thought out. The legislators’ suspension of the CBT for the 2013 UTME and their invitation to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, and Education Minister, Prof. Ruqquayattu Rufai, to come and explain the reason for introducing the method this year, against the former plan to introduce it in 2015, are in order.
The decision of JAMB to contract the examination to private firms also drew queries from the legislators, who expressed concern on the rush for the CBT at a time that majority of the prospective candidates for the examination are not yet computer literate. We support the intervention of the House suspending the use of Computer-Based Test method for this year’s entrance examination into tertiary institutions in the country. The wisdom of the legislators’ decision is apparent, considering the fact that out of the one million and one hundred candidates that had registered for the examination as at January 26, 2013, only 4,000 selected the CBT option, in spite of the provision by JAMB for 150,000 candidates to use the computer mode.
The vast majority of the over one million candidates selected the Pen on Paper (PPT) option, confirming that the CBT is clearly unpopular. To worsen matters, the JAMB Registrar, while confirming that only 4,000 candidates selected the Computer-Based Test method for the examination, said some candidates who selected the Pen on Paper method may be forced to adopt the CBT option because the PPT centres would soon be filled up. This is contrary to his earlier statement that the CBT will be optional for all candidates in 2013 and 2014, before it becomes mandatory in 2015. This plan to force candidates that are not ready for the computer-based tests to take them is wrong. There is no reason to rush into the CBT method when the candidates are not prepared for it. It is not the duty of JAMB to force the e-testing method on candidates.
The examination body should adopt the method that can be used most effectively by the vast majority of the candidates. Even if the electronic testing method must be used from 2015, as earlier planned, it should be preceded by mock CBT tests in schools across the nation. There should also be pilot tests of the method in selected communities in all regions of the country to ensure that both the candidates and the examination body understand what the method entails, and can cope with its requirements. It is wrong to force candidates to take such an important examination using a method that they are not familiar with. Any attempt to force this method down the throats of candidates must be preceded by proper training of the candidates on the method in all schools, especially the public schools in remote parts of the country.
Apart from the problem of many candidates’ unfamiliarity with this testing method owing to their computer illiteracy, the poor power supply in the country is another challenge. Can JAMB, in all sincerity, say that electricity will be available to power computers in every nook and cranny of the country, including the far-flung and riverine areas, on the day of the examination? If the computers are battery-operated, is there any assurance that their batteries would be fully charged for the duration of the examination? While not arguing the importance of moving along with the developed world in the use of computer-based assessments, Nigeria ought to exercise caution with regard to adoption of nationwide e-examinations.
This is because such examinations must be held simultaneously in every part of the country. The system does not leave room for any candidate to retake the examination if something goes wrong with the computer assigned to him/her. Moreover, pervasive computer illiteracy in the nation’s remote rural areas, where some candidates may never even have seen a computer before, may scuttle this rush to e-testing. The House of Representatives is also right to query the decision of JAMB to contract the examination to private companies. Ojerinde seems confident that the private CBT centres accredited for the examination have efficient power supply.
Assuming that these institutions really do have reliable electricity supply, how many of the over a million candidates spread throughout 774 local government areas in the country can they accommodate? Although the CBT method is good in that it will reduce the cost of the UTME, ensure quicker release of results and possibly improve integrity of the examination, adoption of the method should not be rushed. Let JAMB design a foolproof method to surmount glaring logistical loopholes that could mar this testing module before dumping the existing Pen on Paper method.

4 varsity students docked for cultism

ABEOKUTA — No fewer than four university students in Ogun State were, Wednesday,  arraigned before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court for allegedly belonging to a secret cult, known as  “Alora Buccaneer” and  forceful initiation of new students into the cult.
The accused persons, Damilola Animashaun (20), Olakunle Kelani (20), Oluwatobi Anifowose (18) and Kazeem Amusa (18) who  were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy, felony, unlawful administering of oath and threat to life, were not represented by any counsel.
They  all, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Sunday Eigbejiale, the alleged offences were committed on January 14, at about 12.30 a.m. at Osiele in Abeokuta.
The Magistrate, Mr Martins Akinyemi, however, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N160,000 with two sureties in like sum.
He adjourned the case to March 4 for further hearing.

STUDENTS MUST SHUN CULTISM, IT IS EVIL. CULTISM, DRUGS AND OTHER CORE CRIME RUIN STUDENTS. PLEASE BE RESPONSIBLE, AVOID ANYTHING   THAT WOULD RUIN YOUR FUTURE...Campus and Politics news

50 Cent heads for Nollywood

If what we hear is true then American rapper, 50 Cent is on his way to Nigeria to feature in a flick, which would be produced and directed by Emeka Ike.
A source close to Ike disclosed that the movie is a spin off of the actor’s involvement with the training of ex-militants from the Niger Delta, a project he is so dedicated to. “This is a big one for Nollywood. As you read this, plans have been concluded to bring 50 Cent to Nigeria to feature in a new movie. And guess what?
He would be starring alongside Nigerian big names including ex-militants who have renounced violence for peace. The ex-militants underwent special training in acting, cinematography and the basics of filmmaking and production under Emeka Ike in Ghana.
This is the first of such films; many more are on the way. The objective is to practically demonstrate how movies could be used as a tool for empowering restive Nigerian youths,” the source states. Skoops further learnt that work on the movie will begin before the end of the first quarter of this year.