Abolishing Of The Post-Utme Screening Test: Implications For Manpower Development In Nigeria

Abstract

 Following public doubt about the credibility ofscores obtained by candidates in the University Matriculation Examination (UME), the Federal Government directed individual universities to conduct what was termed Post-UME (now post-U TME) screening test to serve as a check on the UME scores. As at the time ofwriting this paper, the screening test had been conducted for five sessions (2005/2006- 2009/2010) with a number ofrevelations. Unfortunately there was a recentresolution by the Federal House ofRepresentatives, directing that the screening testshould be stopped. Being worried by the above resolution, the researcherset out to look at the backgroundofthepost-UME (now UTME)screening test andstudies dealing with the predictive validity of UME. It ended by drawing attention to various negative implications,formanpower development in Nigeria, ofabolishing the screening test, andmade recommendations.