Quota System and Catchment Area Policies as Determinants of Students’ Admission Processes in Public Universities in North Central Nigeria

The study investigated the influence of quota system and catchment area policy on students’ admission processes in public universities in North Central Nigeria. Two research questions guided the study and two hypotheses were tested. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The population of the study comprised 17,240 respondents from thirteen public universities. A total of 862 respondents from six public universities were sampled using a multi-stage sampling procedure (purposive and proportionate stratified random sampling techniques). A 4-point structured 10-item rating scale questionnaire titled Quota System and Catchment Area Policy and Admission Questionnaire (QSCAPAQ) was developed by the researchers and used for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while Regression Analysis was used to test the hypotheses at .05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that quota system and catchment area policies have significant influence on students’ admission processes in public universities in North Central Nigeria. The study concluded that these policies provide citizens and groups with a sense of equal representation and participation. However, in achieving excellence, the universities should encourage universality that will foster respect and integrity; promote equity and justice; as well as provide fertile ground for the federal character principle and other national policies. It was recommended among other things that, to enhance access to university education, the quota system and catchment area policies or locality discrimination should be reviewed to liberalize the admission process and encourage hard work among students.