by By Elijah Ugani
The Head of Department of Science Laboratory Technology SLT, Mr Ivon Ettah PhD, has stated that the Fifty-five Thousand Naira (#55,000.00) charge is for the mandatory professional examination for all graduates of the department.
Mr Ettah disclosed this to TheLumineNews while reacting to the widespread criticism of the levy where some students of the department and members of the public criticized the levy, wondering why students that are yet to complete their B.Sc. program are made to pay for professional levies.
When contacted, the Head of Science Laboratory Technology SLT, Mr Ettah PhD, noted that “I resumed duty as the head of department last two weeks, and I got a notification from the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology NISLT, which I am an Associate Fellow, to ask our graduates.and final year students to register for the examination. A Google form was sent to me and I placed on the students Whatsapp group and asked our final students and those who recently graduated to fill the form, which was done free of charge.
“The institute sent names of 315 persons who registered using the Google form to us and asked that they proceed to pay the sum of #55,000.00 each as part of the requirements to be qualified for the examination. And I placed a notice on the students WhatsApp group stating that registration fee is 5,000.00, Certificate verification is 10,000.00 and 40,000.00 is for registration of modules 1 & 2. Each module costs 20,000.00”.
In a release signed by the HOD, Mr Ivon Ettah PhD, and sent to TheLumineNews indicates that, students are to pay to:
SLT Professional Account
0110460510
UNICAL Microfinance Bank, and payment dateline is 6th September, 2024, and students are advised not to pay to any individual and to notify their parents and guardians properly.
The release reads in whole “INSTRUCTIONS FOR REGISTRATION FOR 2024 THE MANDATORY PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION (MPE):
“You are to Cross check your names first on the list above👆🏿. If you have been shortlisted, then proceed to pay at the Unical Microfinance Bank.
” Pay the sum of N55,000( Fifty Five Thousand Naira ) only to the Account details:
*0110460510*
*SLT professional account*
Analysis of the 55,000 is below:
*5,000 for Registration form:
*10,000 for O’ Level Certificate Verification:
*40,000 for Registration for modules 1& 2…NOTE: Each module costs 20,000
“Take the original Payment teller to the Department for proper Documentation (The Admin staff shall handle this)
* *DEADLINE* FOR PAYMENT FOR MPE IS *THE 6th of SEPTEMBER, 2024.* There shall be no extension
* Only those who pay for Examination shall be finally shortlisted for the Exams
* You are to quote your serial number on the list above👆🏿 when coming for documentation after the payment
* No payment should be made to any individual by hand
* Pls take note of the deadline 🙏 .
* Notify your parents and Guardians properly
*HOD*”
On why students are to pay into a departmental account, the HOD explained that it is a general directive and not restricted to UNICAL only. And noted that “Whatever is paid in UNICAL for the professional Examination is what is paid in all the Universities and Polytechnics offering SLT course”
A brief search on Google on the mode of registration for the mandatory professional examination for the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology shows that 400 level students are expected to register through their head of departments.
“The Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) was established by Act 12 of 2003 of the National Assembly with the core mandate of “advancing the Science Laboratory Technology profession in Nigeria and ensuring through its registered Members, effective and efficient management and administration of all Science Laboratories in Nigeria.
“In pursuance of its mandate, the Council of the Institute at its 32nd meeting modified and approved the new curriculum for the Mandatory Professional Examination (MPE). The MPE would be open to all graduates of Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) from any accredited institution and students of SLT at 400Level or HND I in the University and Polytechnic respectively. Henceforth, passing the MPE would be the pre-requisite for Associate Membership of the Institute.
“The examinations will be in two Modules with two (2) Papers per module. Candidates will be required to pass all papers in Module I before proceeding to Module II while those who fail any paper will have the opportunity to re-sit the paper. Candidates are expected to download the syllabus from the Institute website and prepare for the examination individually. The Institute shall conduct examinations at selected centers in the country at specific times of the year. After passing the MPE, all successful candidates would be inducted into the profession and will be issued an Annual Practicing License.
“Graduates of SLT who wish to write the MPE should fill out the expression of interest form online and pay all the necessary fees. Once the payment is successful, the applicant is expected to proceed and fill out the MPE form. The form will be processed by the Institute. If approved, the candidates will receive their login detail and then be eligible to register for an examination (Module I or Module II or Re-Sit) he or she is qualified to write once the Institute schedules the examination. When the result is released, candidates will be able to log in to their portal and check for their results.
“Students of SLT at 400L or HND I can register for MPE ONLY through their school. The HOD will be expected to profile all students of SLT with the Institute. Only profiled students can register for the examinations. It is to be noted that students CANNOT register directly with the Institute for MPE rather they must first be profiled by their respective schools and then presented for the examinations by their HODs”.
