‘Quota System, Bane Of Equal Educational Opportunities’

The introduction of the Quota System of admission into Nigerian Universities has been said to be a bane to equal educational opportunities to Nigerian students.
The system alongside the commercialisation of education, socio-econmic inequalities, teachers and their activities, politicisation of Education, differences between urban and rural areas, insecurity challenges among others have constituted a major setback in the quest for equal Opportunities in educational pursuits among pupils and students across the country.
A Professor of Curriculum and Instruction, Prof. Lawrence Ikechi Ajoku, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), revealed this in his Inaugural Lecture titled ‘Egalitarianism and Equalisation of Educational Opportunities In Nigeria’ at the University’s Main Campus, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Thursday.
Ajoku, who described the Quota System of admission as discriminatory in nature said the system ran contrary to the principle of equal educational opportunities and has enthroned mediocrity, irrationality and injustice in the nation’s university system.
Ajoku stated that whereas the system was aimed at correcting some observed imbalances in the Nigerian society, narrow the widening gap in education development between the North and the South, assisting the educationally backward states and enhance national unity, it has however, remained a hindrance to achieving equal education opportunities.
He said, “ the Quota System, which is discriminatory in nature, allows candidates with lower scores to be offered admission at the detriment of candidates with higher scores simply because they come from ‘certain’ states of the federation”.
“With the system, well deserving candidates are robbed of their opportunity, all in the name of quota system. Let me ask this fundamental question: does quota system of admission lead to quota graduation? If the answer is negative, then, I strongly maintain that all admissions into Nigerian Universities should be by merit, since graduation is also based on merit”, Ajoku stated.
The IAUE’s 36th Inaugural Lecturer noted that education remained a major instrument through which most societies in the world strive for social equality stating that an egalitarian education system was such in which all categories of children were treated equally in the same circumstances.
Ajoku regretted however, that the notion of equalisation of educational opportunities in Nigeria remained a dream as most of her children do not have equal opportunities in their education.
Ajoku further noted that the Nigerian Educational System was suffering from policy somersaults resulting from difficulties in implementing educational policies and programmes and called on the government to recognise  the high premium placed on education in national development and ensuring that every Nigerian child has access to functional and equal education.
In his closing remarks, the Vice Chancellor, IAUE, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, stressed the need for government and stakeholders in the education sector to abide by the recommendations of the lecturer for not just equal educational opportunities but proper development and a better Nigeria.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu