The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has strongly criticized the National Universities Commission (NUC) for its lack of effective monitoring and Regulation of admission quotas for professional courses in Nigerian universities. This negligence has led to university management admitting students exceeding the capacity and guidelines set by professional bodies, thereby perpetuating unethical practices. Admission into professional courses in Nigeria is highly competitive. Students must meet specific requirements, including high grades in relevant subjects and passing entrance exams.
For instance, to study Medicine, a student must have high grades in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, and pass the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Post-UTME examination. Similarly, to study Law, a student must have high grades in English Language, Literature-in-English, and History, and pass the UTME and the Bar Exam set by the Nigerian Law School (NLS) after graduating. However, some universities ignore these guidelines, admitting more students than they can adequately train, leaving many graduates unable to obtain necessary licenses to practice. This is particularly true for courses like Medical Laboratory Science (MLS), where graduates are unable to write professional exams or gain indexing despite completing their studies years ago.
Many graduates cannot obtain licence to practice.
Meanwhile, the association has condemned this practice, stating that it is alarming that certain university administrations admit more students than they can adequately train, fully aware that these students will not be able to obtain the necessary licenses to practice upon graduation. This malpractice has created a dire situation where many students, particularly those in MLS programmes, have been left in limbo. Some MLS graduates have been unable to write their professional exams or gain indexing, despite having completed their studies as far back as seven years ago.
This unacceptable situation has resulted in graduates being unable to work in their chosen fields, despite having invested years of their lives and substantial resources into their education. The inability to take professional exams not only hampers their career prospects but also wastes the potential contributions they could be making to society. NANS calls on the NUC to take immediate and decisive action to ensure that universities adhere strictly to the admission quotas set by their professional bodies. It is imperative that these quotas are respected to prevent the oversaturation of students in programmes that cannot support their Professional Development and licensing.
Inadequate training results in lack of high-quality service.
Furthermore, the situation has far-reaching consequences, impacting not only students but also the profession as a whole. The lack of adequate training and licensing compromises the quality of service delivery in various fields, including healthcare. This is alarming, as it puts patients’ lives at risk. The medical profession, in particular, requires rigorous training and licensure to ensure competence and safety. The trend of inadequate training and licensing must be reversed to guarantee that Nigerians receive the high-quality services they deserve, and to uphold the integrity of the professions.
Again, the association urges the NUC to implement stringent monitoring and regulatory measures to safeguard the interests of all students and ensure that universities maintain the highest standards of integrity in their admissions processes. The association urges the NUC to implement stringent monitoring and regulatory measures to safeguard the interests of all students and ensure that universities maintain the highest standards of integrity in their admissions processes. NANS stands in solidarity with these students and all others affected by such malpractices. With the NUC’s intervention, the integrity of professional Education in Nigeria can be restored, and future students will not have to endure the hardships currently faced by many.
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In all, NANS condemns the NUC’s laxity in regulating professional course admissions and demands immediate action to address this issue. The association stands in solidarity with affected students and urges the NUC to implement stringent monitoring and regulatory measures to safeguard the interests of all students. We believe that with the NUC’s intervention, the integrity of professional Education in Nigeria can be restored, and future students will not have to endure the hardships currently faced by many.