Analysis of Quota System of Admission (QSA) and the Challenge of Sustainable National Unity in Nigeria

Abstract

This paper analyzed quota system of admission in relation to building of sustainable national unity in Nigeria. The introduction of quota system of admission in Nigeria’s educational sector came due to the desire to ensure that those areas of Nigeria believed to be educationally disadvantaged are aided to achieve through education, similar socio-economic development as their counterparts and thus pacify violent agitations emanating from these areas of the country perceived to be instigating disunity in the country. However, when critically analyzed it was discovered that quota system of admission is riddled with inherent pitfalls that amount to serious threat to successful building of sustainable national unity. Such pitfalls inherent in quota system of admission include: violation of applicants’ equal rights to education as provided for in the 1999 constitution as well as operating a discriminatory admission process that works to favour some school applicants from particular states more than others. Given the above, the researchers argued that application of quota system to school admissions in Nigeria is antithetical to any attempt aimed at building a sustainable national unity in Nigeria. Accordingly, it was recommended that implementation of quota system of admission in Nigeria’s education system be discontinued immediately, budgetary allocation to the educational sector be increased in line with UNESCO’s 26% benchmark to enable building of enough schools to accommodate the ever-increasing number of qualified school applicants.

Keywords: Quota System of Admission, National Unity, Sustainable National Unity.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-30-03

Publication date:October 31^st 2020