Postsecondary Entrance Examinations in Nigeria: A Critical Analysis of the Design and Predictive Validity of the Tripartite Assessment System

Abstract

Admission into post-secondary education requires the fulfillment of specific standards or criteria by prospective candidates. Criteria include, but are not limited to, standardized examinations, resumes, intent statements, tests, interviews, etc. In Nigeria, prospective students must pass three examinations as part of the admission process into post-secondary programs. Reports suggest these examinations lack the best design features and have very low predictive validity in student success in post-secondary programs and their job roles after graduation. This paper critically evaluates the design features of SSCE, UTME, and PUTME in the context of Nigeria and their predictive validity towards student learning and success as graduates. Implications of the Nigerian post-secondary entrance assessment system are discussed. Recommendations are offered from two jurisdictional models to improve the current status of the tripartite post-secondary entrance assessment system in Nigeria.

Academic performance of engineering students: A predictive validity study of first‐year GPA and final‐year CGPA

“…5,6 The mandatory schooling years for all citizens of Nigeria is nine years which is part of the Nigerian Policy on Education; students will spend six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, then proceed to three years of senior secondary school education and if interested, the student can proceed to any Tertiary Institution of learning having met the basic requirements for admission in such Institutions Raji. 7 These objectives are similar to those set by the National Academy of Engineering with its project vision of the Engineer of 2020. The project was tailored to provide a framework that will be effective in positioning education in the United States of America, to tackle future challenges across all engineering fields in the country.…”

“…The mandatory schooling years for all citizens of Nigeria is nine years which is part of the Nigerian Policy on Education; students will spend six years of elementary school, three years of middle school, then proceed to three years of senior secondary school education and if interested, the student can proceed to any Tertiary Institution of learning having met the basic requirements for admission in such Institutions Raji 7 …”