Canadian varsity drops English proficiency test for Nigerians, other schools to review policy

n latest months, Nigerians have been calling for an finish to obligatory English proficiency exams imposed on them by universities within the UK and elsewhere, regardless of that Nigeria speaks English as an official language.

Holding the momentum on that advocacy, some Nigerian college students in Canada just lately renewed the decision—and have acquired a optimistic response from one Canadian college.

One of many Nigerians was Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi, a postdoctoral analysis fellow on the College of British Columbia, (UBC) Canada. He stated on Twitter that the system was unfair, since English is the official language of Nigeria, and all training is taught in English. 

Two days after his preliminary publish (final Wednesday), he tweeted that Nigeria had been added to the list of countries exempted from the English language proficiency requirement at Athabasca University.

“Glad to tell you all that Nigeria and different English-speaking African nations have been added to the Record of International locations exempted from the English Language Proficiency Requirement at Athabasca College,” @olumuyiwaayo tweeted.

Igbalajobi

In a mail he earlier addressed to the administration of Athabasca College in Canada on June 9, 2022, Mr Igbalajobi had defined to the college administration that Nigeria’s official language is English which is predominately used as a way of communication in colleges and workplaces.

“I write to name your consideration to an inventory in your English language proficiency web page that doesn’t acknowledge Nigeria as an English-speaking nation,” Mr Igbalajobi said within the mail.

He added: “I affirmatively imagine that your college attracts candidates from totally different backgrounds and inclusion is germane to her. Will probably be vastly appreciated if Nigeria is included within the record of exempted nations much like that of the College of Calgary, College of Manitoba, College of Toronto, and different universities in Canada.”

He had additionally written to different Canadian universities, together with the College of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), asking them to alter their insurance policies requiring language exams.

“Should you discuss inclusion, make it actual, don’t make it a smokescreen,” stated Igbalajobi. 

Igbalajobi stated it would not make sense to have the requirement, and the exams are costly — costing round $300 — stopping some college students from with the ability to examine overseas. 

“They don’t have a shot at high quality training if they can’t afford this take a look at,” stated Igbalajobi.

UPEI’s web site lists “Recognized English Language Countries and Institutions exempt from language proficiency tests.“

Igbalajobi stated many Nigerian universities are lacking from that record, and a few of the names of establishments are incorrect.

“Who invented the record itself? There are 160 or higher universities in Nigeria, you do not inform me solely 35 universities are acknowledged so it is a double normal, it is biased,” he advised a Canadian information outlet. 

UPEI says it’s contemplating altering its admission necessities to just accept all transcripts from colleges the place the language of instruction has been verified as English. 

Emmanuel Ero, a kinesiology scholar at UPEI, stated all his education was in English, so he would not perceive why he needed to write a take a look at. 

Ero

“I used to be really shocked as a result of I got here from a world faculty,” he stated. “My exams there may be manner more durable than what they gave me for the English take a look at so I believed, like, it was pointless, it was really easy.”

Biology scholar Iyobosa Igbineweka says the exams are rather a lot to ask of Nigerian college students, who’ve studied in English since pre-school. She sees no motive why Nigerian college students ought to have to jot down the examination.

Igbineweka

“In Nigeria from the pre-school to kindergarten to elementary faculty to highschool we now have been taught in English and having to jot down this English take a look at after we additionally converse English is only a lot.”

In an announcement to the Canadian medium CBC, Donna Sutton, the affiliate vice-president of scholars and registrar at UPEI, stated the college is “contemplating altering its admission necessities to just accept all transcripts from colleges the place the language of instruction has been verified as English as proof of English proficiency.”

“This would come with post-secondary establishments in Nigeria,” she stated.

“It’s anticipated that any modifications would seemingly happen earlier than the subsequent recruitment cycle begins in September. We acknowledge that our procedures must be revisited at instances, and we admire that this matter was dropped at our consideration.”