More than 30 inmates scored over 180 in UTME

Mr . Ibikunle Idris , the principal of Ikoyi Prison School has revealed that 36 out of 59 inmates who sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination scored 180 and above.
Idris , in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Lagos , said the performance of the inmates , in spite of their being in incarceration , was impressive.
He mentioned that one of the inmates scored 236 in the examination .
“ The highest score among the inmates we presented for the 2017 UTME is 236 . I am impressed with this year ’ s performance , compared to last year ’ s performance in the same examination in terms of average .
“ The 59 candidates that wrote this year ’ s examination is an improvement over 36 persons that registered in 2016 , ’’ the principal said .
He attributed the success story to “ the new penchant for learning’’ demonstrated by the inmates .
According to him , the efforts put in by various individual volunteer teachers from within and outside the facility also contributed to the performance of the inmates .
He said the prison authorities also improved their facilities , which enhanced qualitative teaching .
The principal also commended JAMB for assisting the school with 60 computers and accessories for the conduct of the UTME .
Idris told NAN that the prison authorities were following up the academic progress of some inmates that were recently released as part of its aftercare service .
“ We are still getting in touch with them.
“ We try to follow them up and offer guidelines on what to do at every given point in time.
“ Recently , three of them, who had left the facility, called to seek assistance on how to further their education . ’’
The principal, however , pleaded with relevant government authorities to assist the facility with a befitting Computer - Based Test centre .
“ With a well - equipped CBT centre in the facility , the inmates can be effectively trained on how to apply the computer during major external examinations .