The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) will no longer conduct pre-admission assessment examinations for aspiring first year students following recommendations by a review team at the institution.

The matriculation examination, introduced in 1999, had been conducted at the university as a result of excessive leakage of advanced level national examinations and increased cases of fake certificates submitted by the students.

But a report submitted by the University Matriculation Examination (UME) review team led by Professor Mshoro said the process had become an unnecessary cost burden on the university and students. It also imposed logistical difficulties on the admission process.

The average cost of administering and marking the examinations, according to the report is about Sh9,667 per student. In 2007 alone the university used Sh145 million. "In eyes of the public, the matriculation examination has also assumed the image of an unjustified income generation project.

The amount charged per candidate is Sh15,000, which is well above the average cost of the exam per person. While as many as 14,000 candidates sit for this exam every year, only about 6,000 (42.7 per cent) are admitted," the report shows.

The report also indicates that data collected over the past six years showed that nearly all candidates who met the basic minimum admission criteria passed UME. Candidates who failed never reached 4 per cent of the total number of candidates who sat for the examinations.

It shows that only in two out of the eight total groups examined over the last six years did the proportion of failing candidates reach 3 per cent.

The university had also since adpoted use of A level performance records obtained directly from the National Examinations Council (Necta) to countercheck paper certificates received from applicants.

However, loopholes within the examinations council have not made it easy for the university. Cases of leakages and corruption within the system still threaten credibility of certificates.

But Necta officials said recently the council had taken a number of measures to curtail examination leakages and punish corrupt officials. They say the council had tightened invigilation processes and handling of examinations in general.

Meanwhile, the university will continue admitting foreign students based on the usual certificates they submit. The review team said since foreign students were usually few, it would be easy verifying their papers.

But students from Uganda would be required to bring form six certificates certified by the Uganda Examination Board. Previously, they only presented copies of results slips from their respective schools.