Exploring Institutional Policies towards Achieving Macro Policy of Equal University Admission: A Case of a Selected University in Northwest Nigeria

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation is thus to explore the perspective of policy implementers and policymakers’ on issue related to institutional micro policies towards achieving equality of educational opportunities on access to university education in Nigeria. The investigation used qualitative approach for in-depth understanding of the problem using interview protocol and document analysis as instruments to obtain data and other relevant information for the study, the participants were purposively chosen from the University of the case study. From the study, while the amount of quota allocation has been challenging to some states, Sokoto State is struggling hard to fill the vacancies allocated to it due to the lack of qualified secondary school graduates to enroll in to university, despite the university is allocated in Sokoto with its prime constitutional purpose to ensure equality in the State. In spite of been it the State government sole responsibility for the provision of qualitative basic and secondary education, the university initiated various micro policies towards addressing the problem, among which are; University Matriculation Program to retrain the unqualified secondary school graduates to enable them to enroll in the various degree programs of their choices. Furthermore, the university inaugurated improvement committees which are working independently in making assessment in the areas of needs and advise the government respectively. While the university is accused of reserving vacancies for the Sokoto indigenes through their Matriculation Program, according to the findings of this study the Sokoto State government did not before implemented a single recommendations suggested to it by the improvement committees towards achieving equality of educational opportunity on access to university education.