1. JAMB 2013: Analysis of Applicants’ UTME Subjects

2. Registration for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) 2013 by the Joint Admission & Matriculation Board (JAMB) started in November 2012 and ended on March 24 th, 2013. Candidates are tested in 23 different UTME Subjects; however, each is to sit for 4 Subjects with Use of English as compulsory subject for All candidates. A total of 1,728,003 candidates applied to study different courses in Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics & Monotechnics, Colleges of Education and Innovation Enterprise Institutions.

3. The UTME Subjects are: The Subjects chosen are determined by the requirements stipulated in the JAMB Brochure for each respective course AgricultureArabic Art (Fine Art) BiologyChemistry Christian Rel. Know CommerceEconomics FrenchGeographyGovernmentHausaHistory Home Economics Igbo Islamic Studies Lit. in English MathematicsMusicPhysics Principle of Account Use of English Yoruba This study is carried out in order to observe, amongst others, if there exist Candidates’ bias for Science- oriented subjects as they consider their course of study.

4. There are 3 Subject Areas in Nigerian Secondary Schools: Sciences Arts/HumanitiesCommercial 1 2 3 4 Students’ choices of which of the 3 they choose is; based on; 1 Performance in the Junior West African Examination Council, 2 Performance in Senior Secondary School Class 1, – where they are required to take all subjects – 3 Advice from school Counselors and 4 Students prerogative choice based on their future career projection. According to the groupings above, the UTME Subjects can be divided as follows:

5. Sciences Agriculture Biology Chemistry Mathematics Physics Geography Medical Sciences Engineering Social Sciences Education Agriculture Faculties Chemistry Mathematics Physics Geography= Engineering Physical Sciences Biology Chemistry Agriculture = Medical Biological Sciences Agriculture Use of English is compulsory for all Candidates.

6. Arts/Humanities Arabic Art (Fine Art) Christian Rel. Know Economics French Government Hausa History Home Economics Igbo Islamic Studies Lit. in English Music Yoruba Arts/Humanities Social Sciences Education Law Faculties Use of English is compulsory for all Candidates.

7. Commercial Commerce Economics Mathematics Principles of Accounts Administration Social Sciences Education Faculties Use of English is compulsory for all Candidates. In Summary: Sciences (6): Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, Geography Arts/ Humanities (14) : Arabic, Art (Fine Art), Christian Rel. Know, Economics, French, Government, Hausa, History, Home Economics, Igbo, Islamic Studies, Lit. in English, Music, Yoruba Commercial (4): Commerce, Economics, Mathematics, Principles of Accounts

8. Of the 1.7million candidates who will be sitting for the UTME 2013, UTME Subjects of 908,000+ candidates with presence in all 37 Test States (FCT inclusive) were extracted for analysis. Candidates’ Subjects Analysis Subject% Mathematics46.10 Chemistry41.29 Government39.13 Economics38.65 Physics38.56 Biology26.93 Lit. in English15.77 Subject% CRK14.47 Commerce12.02 Geography4.31 Prin. of Acct3.08 Agriculture3.02 Islamic Studies 2.51 Hausa1.29 Subject% History0.57 Arabic0.34 Yoruba0.19 Fine Art0.19 Igbo0.17 Home Econ.0.07 French0.06 Music0.03 Candidates Choice (%) per Subject:

9. The table shows that approximately 46.1% of candidates chose Mathematics as one of their UTME Subjects, Chemistry (41.3%), Government (39.1%), Economics (38.7%), Physics (38.6%), Biology (26.9%), Lit in English (15.8%), Christian Religion Knowledge (14.5%) and Commerce (12.0%) The down liners are Music (0.03%), French (0.06%), Home Economics (0.07%), Igbo (0.17%). Fine Arts (0.19%), Yoruba (0.19%), Arabic (0.34%) and History (0.57%). By the foregoing, it shows that more candidates have considerable interest in the Sciences, and Commercials.

10. The more candidates considers Subjects in the down liners, the smaller the overall percentage Subjects% Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology26.9% Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics38.6% Physics, Biology, Chemistry26.9% Economics, Government, Lit. in English15.8% Government, Economics, CRK14.8% Principle of Acct., Economics, Government3.1%

11. Students performance in the Sciences has not been good even at Ordinary Levels(O/Levels); below is the result released by the National Examination Council (NECO) for the Nov/Dec 2012 examination: the values show % of candidates with credit passes English Language – 33.89% Mathematics – 54.79% Arabic – 78.97% Biology – 22.84% Christian Rel. – 6.51% Economics – 33.67% Geography – 1.63% Literature in English – 0.73% Chemistry – 30.17% Physics – 0.26% From this result, performance is the 3 major Science subjects are below 35%

12. Similarly, no information exist as to if any candidates with Science UTME subjects have achieved a JAMB score of at least 300, but this achievement is a piece of cake for those in Arts and Commercial areas. In JAMB 2009, a 16years old emerged with the highest score of 310, followed by three others tied with a score of 308. It was, however, noteworthy that none of the top 15, whose marks ranged between 298 & 310 applied to study the Sciences. Likely UTME Subjects ScoreCourse Mathematics, Economics, Government, Lit. in English, History, etc. 310Communications 308 IRPM Economics Hist. & Dip Studies

13. It is an indication that the quest to position Nigeria as one of the Top20 World Economies with Science & Technology as a tool for economic empowerment is not yielding the desired result. It is without doubt that Talents abides in our Schools, but the hunger to become Scientists, Technologist, Engineers and the likes is not being met with the right infrastructures in our Schools and Industries. If indeed Nigeria must be relevant, and compete with other Nations Technologically, Scientifically and in the Knowledge Economy; definite steps would be required to ensure that Students are not only encouraged to enrolled in the Sciences, but also provided the required tools and learning aids in order to achieve great success for self and the Nation.

14. Freely share, freely use and freely acknowledge the source – © Wale Micaiah Data source: -JAMB Analysis by: Wale Micaiah e: walegate@yahoo.comwalegate@yahoo.com m: 08078001800 b: walemicaiah.blog.com w. www.statisense.info