KEY POINTS
- UNIBEN optometry admission exceeds approved quota.
- This admission leaves 200 students uncertain.
- UNIBEN optometry admission dispute unresolved before exams.
Dozens of students admitted into the University of Benin’s Doctor of Optometry programme for the 2025/2026 academic session face uncertainty after the department said it had exceeded its approved admission quota.
Parents say 350 candidates received admission letters into Optometry through the university and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, resumed in November and began lectures. But four months into the session, the school reportedly told them that only 150 students could stay because of accreditation and quota constraints. This raised more questions about how UNIBEN admits students to its optometry program.
The change has left some students concerned about their academic future, and others have reportedly been denied clearance as the first-semester exams get closer.
UNIBEN optometry admission raises quota questions
A parent who contacted Vanguard said families paid acceptance fees in good faith and expected the admissions to be valid. “Our children received admission letters into Optometry, paid acceptance fees and resumed lectures. Now we are being told only 150 can stay,” the parent said, questioning how the selection would be determined and why the issue was not addressed earlier.
According to the account, no clear communication has been provided on the criteria for retaining students in the programme. Some students remain uncertain about their current departmental status even as lecturers continue classes and administrators schedule examinations for March.
Regulatory bodies, including the National Universities Commission and relevant professional councils, require universities in Nigeria to follow admission quotas. These agencies determine how many students each programme can admit based on available staff strength and infrastructure capacity.
UNIBEN optometry admission uncertainty persists
Parents believe that the lack of clarification has made students more anxious because they are afraid they will be moved to different departments against their will.
The university has not yet made a public announcement about the issues. Officials have not yet made the number of pupils affected or the plan for how to fix the problem public.
The situation further highlights bigger problems with managing capacity in professional programs, where accreditation criteria often limit the number of students who may enroll. For now, the impacted pupils are waiting for more information from the school as the school year goes on and exams get closer.
