September 2014 Vol. 2 No.9

Search Pubmed for articles by:
 

Joe AI
Iderima CE

Other links:
PubMed Citation
Related articles in PubMed


 

Original Research Article

Modes of admission and academic performance in Nigerian Universities

Andy Igho Joe¹, Peter James Kpolovie²*, Kalu Eke Osonwa³ and Chris E. Iderima⁴

¹The Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), University of Port Harcourt
²The Acting Director, Academic Planning, Research and Control Unit, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt
³Department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, university of Port Harcourt
⁴Information and Communication Technology Centre, University of Port Harcourt

*Corresponding Author's E-mail: Kpolovie@gmail.com; Tel: +2348088061666

Accepted September 26, 2014

Abstract

With causal comparative ex-post facto design, this investigation comparatively analysed academic performance of graduates admitted through Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination/Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME/PUTME) and Preliminary Programmes (Certificate, Basic Studies and School of Science Laboratory Technology [SSLT]) in University of Port Harcourt. Nine research questions and hypotheses were postulated. A stratified random sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 1,200 from a population of 13,898 regular programmes graduates of 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 academic sessions from seven faculties. The Cumulative Grade Point Averages of the graduates were collected from the Exams and Records Office. While the first eight null hypotheses were tested with Independent Samples T-test, the ninth was tested with Two-way Analysis of Variance at 0.05 alpha. Results showed that graduates who were admitted through the Preliminary Programmes performed significantly better than their counterparts who were admitted through the UTME/PUTME in all the Faculties except in Agricultural Science and Engineering. A Comparison of the four modes of admission showed the Certificate Programme has produced graduates with the best academic performance, followed respectively by the Basic Studies, SSLT and UTME/PUTME programmes.

Keywords: Academic performance, Causal comparative ex-post facto design, Graduates, Modes of admission, Preliminary programmes, University of Port Harcourt, UTME/PUTME