CRITIQUE OF QUOTA ADMISSION POLICY IN FEDERAL UNITY COLLEGES: A CONSIDERATION FOR QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

This study undertook a critique of quota admission policy in Federal Unity Colleges in Nigeria with a view to pin-pointing the merit as well as the inherent negative consequences of the policy. The review of the enabling theories on equal opportunity particularly as it bothers on admission policy in each state regardless of their vintage position in terms of access and acceptance of western type of education can fill in candidates representing their state of origin in these schools. The study observed that the students that were admitted from educationally disadvantaged states get easily admitted using low cut-off marks but rarely complete their academic pursuit due mainly to low academic achievement in formative assessment which these schools never tolerate or condone. The study recommends among others that the educationally less-developed areas should put in place programmes for strengthening and expanding their primary and secondary education systems to promote excellence ard graduate candidates qualified to compete for places in pos-primary (FUCs) and other higher institutions of learning.