IMPACT OF OVER-ADMISSION OF STUDENTS IN NIGERIAN TERTIARY INSTITUTION

(A CASE STUDY OF INSTITUE OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY ENUGU, ENUGU STAFTE)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1      BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Tertiary institution is the third in rank or stage of education by oxford Advanced learners English Dictionary- third Edition by S. Hon by. Which includes universities, polytechnics, colleges of Education and others allied education institutions after primary and post- primary education.

Polytechnics and colleges of education are co-ordinated. The universities both in Nigeria and other countries. The need for polytechnics and colleges of education arose because of the need for intermediate and middle level manpower (National Diploma and national certificate of education) and higher. Level manpower (Higher National Diploma and Bachelors Degree) on the civil services and private sector all over the country.

It has been observed in most Nigeria universities that many course being taught had no practical relevance, only the theoretical aspect were concentrated upon. This necessitate the establishment of polytechnic in Nigeria. Since practice makes perfect in whatever one studies. Theoretically, the practical aspect of it must be taken into consideration too.

So, in order to fill the manpower needs in the federal and state, civil service and parastatals as well as in the privates sectors. Many state and federal polytechnics were established.

Polytechnics are apparently very useful because of this technical know how. To active this objective, the various polytechnics programmed a three mouths industrial training at the end of one Academic year for industrial attachment training. This enables the students to be practically proficient in their chosen skill.

Some premier polytechnics like institute of management and Technology (IMT) Enugu, went far to establish industrial center to expose the students in the acquision of skill and use of modern tools and technology.

Colleges of education are subordinates of universities. There are colleges of Education that academic programmes in three years after which students will obtain the national certificated of Education. After which they proceed to the university to spend more two years to obtain Bachelor of Education. It is created to provide for middle manpower in the teaching profession by the federal Government of Nigeria.

There are some colleges of Education that awards Bachel or like the Alvan Ikoku College of Education Owerri. It is delegated by university of Nigeria Nsukka to provide higher level manpower equivalent to the one obtain form other universities. Polytechnics are give right to produce N.C.E graduates to provide middle level manpower in the teaching profession.

In Nigeria polytechnics, universities and colleges of Education, Examination are conducted before candidates are admitted into their required discipline. The sensor secondary school certificated Examination and joint matriculation Examination. The only difference in the admission to the universities, polytechnic and colleges of Education that university credits at one two sitting while polytechnics and colleges of Education has minimum requirement of four at one sitting and five at two sitting. So, this one credit difference has made for over-admission into the Nigeria polytechnics and colleges of Education and has caused negative effects on the society at large, the students in particular, the government and the institution as a body. The lecturer over- worked and over-stressed himself and facilities are over-stressed himself and facilities are over-stretched beyond repair.

There id be called illiterate and many families are happy to see their children enter the higher institutions. Any one who attends a polytechnic is educated. His education is most for the government the private sector or be self- employed. Many rich family’s are unhappy because they have discovered that they are alone cannot give all the joy the society need but the graduated form polytechnics, ND/ HND graduates and university graduates for a family to be sufficiently graduate.

So, before the needs of individuals, the government top facilities, equipments and etc are met, there is over-admission, if the government can provide enough is worth wile for people to aspire to be educated. An educated person is responsible, a responsible citizen is useful, not only to himself but to his community.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Admissions into Nigerian universities have become a big issue over the years because of the ever increasing demands for University education and the availability of only 75 universities in the country. Prior to 1978 each University conducted its placement examination and admitted its students in line with available spaces.

There has been an upsurge in the student population without a corresponding improvement in accommodation and other student services. The average Nigerian university has a carrying capacity of 4,500. But the number of candidates scrambling for admission outweighs the just over 500,000 spaces available annually for admission into the universities. The pressure on the available facilities has led to rapid deterioration and undue congestions and overcrowding. Most of Nigerian physical Tertiary Institution facilities are used beyond the original capacity, many lecturers, including professors share offices, which are poorly ventilated, illuminated, furnished and ill-equipped. Lecture rooms, theatres, laboratories and workshops are shared by many programmes across different departments and faculties, thereby overcrowding/overstretching them. Studio spaces and equipment are often insufficient and sometimes obsolete; poor electricity and water supply; dearth of learning resources like books and journals and poor ICT facilities. This has translated into poor result, overcrowding and overstretching of available facilities due to over-admission and thus negatively impacting educational outcomes. Open-air sports pavilion, convocation arenas, old cafeteria and even uncompleted buildings are now used for lectures. Teaching staff–student ratio is very high. While crisis of over-admission remains, quality has also become the major challenge in tetiary institutions. Thus it is upon the premise that this study is set to examine, the impact of over-admission of student in Nigeria Higher Institution

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The main focus of this study is to examine the impact of over-admission of student in Nigeria Higher Institution. Specifically, the study seek

1. To examine the  causes of over-admission of student in tertiary institution

2. To examine the effect of over-admission of student in higher institutions

3. To proffer suggestions on how over-admission can be tackled

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

The research is guided by the following question

1.   What are the causes of over admission in Nigeria Higher Institution?

2.   Are over-admission rate higher in Nigeria Polytechnics than Universities?

3.   What are the effect of over-admission in Nigeria Higher Institutions?

4.   What are the possible solutions to remedy over-admission and its effects in Nigeria Higher Education?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The research will be of immense importance to the student and authorities of tertiary institutions, especially IMT as it would not only help them trace the cause and effect of over-admission problem but also suggest how best to tackle them. The findings of the study will alert government too quickly on the need to intervene owing to the increase in scramble for entry into tertiary institutions and make provisions for more facilities via funding and infrastructures. More so the study will contribute to the body of knowledge and serve as reference material to student and other researchers in this field.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study borders on the impact of over-admission in Nigeria Higher Institutions. The study is however limited to Institute of  Management and Technology(IMT) Enugu State.

1.7  LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

 Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview)

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Admission: Admission is the process through which students enter tertiary education at universities and colleges.

Over-Admission: This is a situation whereby a higher institution admit more student more their carrying capacity.

Higher Institution: Higher education institutions include typically traditional universities and in many countries professionally-oriented institutions known as universities of applied sciences or polytechnics.