The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Computer Based Test (CBT)

  • UTME: No exemption on biometric verification, JAMB insists

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says there is no exemption on biometric verification for all candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The board made this known in its Vol. 1, No 11 weekly Bulletin of the Office of the Registrar and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

    According to the board, biometric verification will be the only mode of admittance of candidates into its examination centres nationwide saying that examination officials must adhere strictly to the rules.

    “Exemption mode is not allowed for any candidate, therefore, no biometric verification, no examination and no candidate should be kept waiting if he or she cannot be verified but should be directed to contact JAMB.

    “There is no other attendance register apart from the biometric verification, it will also serve as the attendance register during the examination as photo albums will only carry pictures with no marking points for either present or absent.

    “All examination officials, including security agents are to ensure compliance with all guidelines, rules and regulations on the examination as strict adherence to the guide on compulsory biometric verification of every candidate is required,” the board said.

    It also listed prohibited items into the examination halls as watches, pen or Biro, mobile phones or similar electronic device, books, calculators, smart eye lenses, ear pieces, recorders and jewelry.

    Others are key holders, ATM cards, erasers, Bluetooth devices, microphones among others, while adding also that spy reading glasses must be scrutinised.

    NAN recalls that the board had recently scheduled to commence the 2019 exercise starting with its mock examination on April 1 and the main examination on April 11, across its Computer Based Test (CBT) centres, nationwide. (NAN)

  • UTME 2018: Candidates call for transparency in admission process

    UTME 2018: Candidates call for transparency in admission process

    A typical Computer-Based Test ( CBT ) centre for the Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination ( UTME ) scheduled to begin on Friday, March 9 nationwide.

         Some Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination ( UTME ) candidates in FCT are optimistic that the 2018 exercise would end in their favour, having prepared well ahead.

    The candidates, who spoke in separate interviews with our reporter at a Computer Based Test ( CBT ) centre on Thursday in Bwari, Abuja, also called for transparency in the admission process.

    Our reporter, reports that many of the candidates, who seem fully prepared for the examinations, are determined to gain admissions into their various higher institutions of choice.

    The computer-based testing ( CBT ) examination is scheduled to hold between Friday, March 9 and Monday, March 19 nationwide.

    Lucy Ibrahim, one of the candidates, told our reporter,  that she was writing the examinations for the second time, adding that her level of optimism remained unshaken.

    According to her, it is not the scores that concern her but the struggle for admission into her university of choice.

    “I scored 231 last year but I believe that I will score higher this time.

    “But my prayer is for my school of choice to admit me this year.

    “I am from Kaduna and I applied for Mass Communication in ABU.

    “I just hope that the process is transparent and fair, so that a good percentage of us can get the admission this year,’’ Ibrahim said.

    Similarly, Chibuke Okafor, another candidate told our reporter,  that his level of preparedness was high enough to give him the score he needed to make his admission dream come true.

    He, however, alleged that the entire admission process was discouraging and fraught with corruption.

    Read Also: UTME 2018: JAMB vows to fight malpractice, cautions against fraudsters

    According to him, the level of corruption in some schools would not allow fairness in the entire admission process.

    Okafor said that with the new cut-off mark of 120, some schools would still frustrate the system by making it difficult for many eligible candidates.

    A candidate, Patrick Adamu, prayed for the exercise to be hitch-free, especially from network disruption.

    He also wished that the exercise begin on schedule

    Another candidate, Mercy Obi, who commended the JAMB for introducing innovations to enhance the system, urged various schools to emulate the board’s desire to make things easier for candidates.

    She said: “Most times, you find out that the challenges that come up are not from JAMB but from schools.

    “This is because when JAMB gives admission to a candidate, the school may likely not admit such candidate, even if you meet up all requirements.

    “Some of us, who have no one to fight for us or money to spend to gain admission, will continue to write until luck finally shines on us’’.

    Our reporter,  recalls that JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, recently reiterated the board’s commitment towards improving the efficiency of its services to curb all forms of malpractice.

    Oloyede said that the Central Admissions Processing System ( CAPS ), which is the automated admission platform, would provide candidates with the opportunity to track their admissions.

    According to the registrar, the system ensures strict adherence to admission guidelines, thereby creating equity and fairness in the process.

    He said this was responsible for timely completion of the 2017 admission.

    NAN

  • JAMB begins construction of 500-seat CBT centre in Benin

    JAMB begins construction of 500-seat CBT centre in Benin

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Friday laid the foundation stone for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) 500-seat Computer-Based Test ( CBT ) Centre in Benin.

    The governor said at the event that centre would add to the state’s education industry.

    He said that the state had been known for hosting Federal Government institutions and, thus, its decision to partner with JAMB to have the centre in the state.

    “We saw it as our responsibility to our people and the Federal Government to have a South-South Zonal Office and a CBT Centre in the state and we had to do all within our means to get a land for the project,” he said.

    The governor gave assurance of power supply to the centre and construction of access roads to the centre in 2018.

    He commended the Federal Government for releasing funds for the project, and hailed JAMB for introducing CBT which, he said, had helped to reduce examination malpractice.

    Responding, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, commended Obaseki for promptly securing a parcel of land for the centre.

    Oloyede said that JAMB decided to have a CBT centre in Benin in view of the growing number of candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in the state capital.

    “Benin is the seventh in terms of JAMB examination enrolment and 22nd in terms of facilities available for candidates to sit for the examination.

    “To solve the facilities need in the state, the Federal Government, is building this CBT Centre in the state,” he said.

    The registrar gave assurance of more working ties with the governor who, he said, had much zeal to meet the education needs of Edo people.

    Other dignitaries at the event include the Registrar of NABTEB, Prof. Ifeoma Isiugo-Abanihe; the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Benin, Prof, Pius Iribhogbe, and the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Christopher Adesotu.

    NAN

  • JAMB direct entry to close Sept. 15

    JAMB direct entry to close Sept. 15

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) says it will close the Direct Entry e-Registration portal on Sept.15.

    Dr Fabian Benjamin, the Head of Media and Information of the board, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

    Benjamin advised candidates yet to register to do so before the deadline, saying that there might be no postponement of the deadline.

    He also advised JAMB candidates to re-upload their ‘O’ level results in the new portal as the previous portal did not allow for the capturing of candidates level of grades.

    He also said that candidates should use the approved Computer Based Test (CBT) Centres for the exercise.

    According to him, the new portal has provided a platform for the detailed category of the West African Examination Result ( WAEC ) of candidates for proper placement.

    “The first platform that was used for the exercise does not create room for the capturing of the levels of grade such as C4, C5, C6, B1, B2, B3 and A1.

    “ You know in some schools, all these ‘O’ level grades are being considered.

    “For example, if you have B1 and another one has B3 and there is no room for separation in the platform schools may not be able to ascertain the level of grades some schools will consider the O’ level grades.

    “And the first platform just stated A, B, C, so with this new platform, there will be room for the download of the level of grades. Somebody who has B1 will stand a better chance than the person with B3.

    “So, we use this new platform to capture all those detailed categories of WAEC result so that no grade of result will be left uploaded.’’

    Benjamin, however, said that any candidate who felt that what he or she uploaded before was enough might not bother.

  • 2017 UTME: 48 CBT centres blacklisted for malpractice

    2017 UTME: 48 CBT centres blacklisted for malpractice

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has blacklisted 48 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres over their involvement in extortion and organised examination malpractices during the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja at a news conference at the end of an enlarged meeting with external examiners and other stakeholders in the conduct of the 2017 UTME.

    Oloyede, who also announced the cancellation of the results of 59,698 candidates who sat for the examination, said another 24 CBT centres had been suspended for one year for failing to live up to expectations.

    “The (24 CBT) centres will not participate in the 2018 UTME, but they can be reconsidered for 2019 and above.

    “The delisting of 48 centres from participating in the board’s examination in future is as a result of serious technical deficiencies, extortion, organised examination malpractices and other damaging infractions.”

    He said that JAMB had fixed July 1, 2017 as the date for supplementary examination for candidates who registered late for this year’s UTME.

    Oloyede added that some of the candidates whose results were cancelled, would also take part in the rescheduled exam.

    The JAMB boss said the decision to allow the candidates sit for the rescheduled examination was reached after a thorough review of all the reports that emanated from their centres.

    According to him, 1,386 candidates have their results cancelled over examination malpractice; 57,646 results were also affected as a result of centres-induced malpractices while the results of 666 candidates were cancelled due to multiple examinations.

    He listed the categories of candidates whose results were cancelled but would take part in the rescheduled examination to include candidates of centres with mass malpractices but who are deemed innocent, biometric non-verification machine related issues.

    Others include technical and log out issues, late registration, incomplete results and candidates who lost examination sessions due to malfunctioning of servers at the affected centre.

  • 321 visually impaired candidates to take 2017 UTME

    321 visually impaired candidates to take 2017 UTME

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said it has registered 321 visually impaired candidates for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The Head, JAMB Information and Media, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday  in Bwari.

    Benjamin said that the figure was higher than the 201 candidates registered for the examination in 2016.

    He said that adequate arrangement has been made for the visually impaired candidates to participate fully in the forthcoming UTME.

    According to him, the board used to  conduct the Computer Based Test (CBT) using Braille Apex Machine, but most of them complained about its usage.

    “They said they do not know how to use these machines: we are going to bring all visually impaired persons to come and write the exam in a particular location.

    “It could be Digital Bridge in Lagos or Digital Bridge in Abuja.

    “One of the things we have always done for them is to ensure that the few of them that meet the minimum requirement get it.

    “We encourage universities to admit them; we also give them courses that they want to read, so that we can give room for inclusiveness.

    “So that is our preparation as it relates to visually impaired candidates; they are 321 that is 18 per cent of the 1.7 million candidates that registered for this year’s UTME,” the JAMB’s spokesman said.

    The visually impaired candidates who sat for the 2015/2016 UTME practiced with the Braille Apex machine at their respective centres a day before the main examination.

    The practice was also done in the 2015 edition of the UTME through the use of CBT platform.

    He explained that the Board often encourage universities to offer admission to visually impaired candidates who met the basic requirement, saying that 2017 will not  be  an exception.

    Benjamin said  plans were underway to employ the services of experts in the field of education, to be able to achieve the desired goal.

    “We will get some of Nigeria’s best hands in some of those various subjects that they are going to write; these are professors, and people with integrity.

    “They will sit down together with the visually impaired candidates; ask the candidates questions, assess them and then rate them, so it is that rating that will be used for admission purposes.”

    On preparation to hold the UTME on May 13, he said all hands were on  deck to conduct a hitch free exercise.

    He noted that the Board did not receive any complaint about irregularity in the course of registration of candidates, as being alleged in certain quarters.

    “There is no complaint from anybody; we have passed the stage of registration, we registered 1.7 million candidates, so if there are issues, we will not have arrived at that number.

    “The hitches that we had were experienced at the initial stage of registration, which was basically as a result of non-compliance with our instruction.

    “We have made necessary effort to ensure that those instructions are adhered to, there is no complain as regards registration again across the country,” he added.

    He, however, said that the posting of candidates to their various examination centers would start from Tuesday May 9.

  • UTME: Mock exam to hold Saturday 

    UTME: Mock exam to hold Saturday 

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has fixed Saturday 29th (this weekend), for the conduct of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mock examination in some selected centres across the country for interested candidates.

    JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede made the announcement during a workshop to train its officials for the coming UTME examination in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He said the mock examination would take place in 633 computer based test (CBT) centres across the country.

    The examination body had announced the suspension of the conduct of its mock examination earlier scheduled to hold Saturday, 8 this month in some selected centers across the country indefinitely, blaming the postponement on failure from its technical partners.

    But JAMB registrar said the agency was trying to conduct its examinations in the best way that would not be wasteful or make Nigeria inferior in the community of examination bodies.

    Prof. Oloyede said: “We have identified those technical hitches and quickly made necessary correction and tighten loose nuts. As a matter of fact, a trial mock was conducted last week in 10 states and the exercise was 99 percent successful

    “All we are trying to do is to do things the best way that will not be wasteful, that will not make Nigeria inferior in the community of examination bodies. What we are trying to do is find the most efficient way of conducting our examination.

    “I believe whatever can work in another place can work in Nigeria. For us, what we are trying to do is to give the best of our services to this great nation of ours. I need not be the registrar of JAMB if there will be no change positively.

    “We believe that come next Saturday (this Saturday), we will do our best. What we have done now is that last Monday we conducted a preliminary mock in ten places across the country and it was 99 percent success. We conducted it in Sokoto, Abuja, Lagos, Ilorin, Nasarawa, Lokoja and we tested the technology again it was working but it worked because of the cooperation of all.

    “I don’t expect full perfection from all the system. There would be saboteurs that might work against us and that was why we have plans A, B and C, in addition to several other backups in case any of our plan fails. At the end of the day, it would be said of me that I have done my best.”

    He alleged that powerful forces was working hard to derail the smooth conduct of the examination nationwide, vowing that JAMB would not return to status quo.

    “People are head bent on creating problems where none exist. I believe their toes are very big and I don’t mind stepping on them. Believe that at the end of the day Nigerians will know the truth and who to appreciate and who to condemn.

    “So I expect all other stakeholders involved in the system not to sabotage the efforts of the board but reciprocate such gesture and goodwill so that we could give Nigerians the best of services they deserve,” he said.

     

  • JAMB: Parents, candidates call for more centres, extension of time for registration

    JAMB: Parents, candidates call for more centres, extension of time for registration

    Some parents and candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Abuja have called on JAMB to increase the time frame for registration as well as registration centres.

    In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, they said considering the challenges faced so far, the number of centres and four week period for registration were not sufficient.

    Mrs Vicky Anyembe, a parent who spoke with NAN at one of the accredited Computer Based Test (CBT) Centres said it took her child three days to register for the examination.

    Aymembe said it took her child three days to register because of the slow internet at the centre.

    “We have been leaving the house every day before 6 a.m to ensure we are among the first to register but no avail because the centre has been having poor internet.

    “If you ask me, I will say we are not ready for this computerised process because people are suffering to register.

    “Government should do something about it maybe create more centres to ease the process.

    “Some of these children have to return to the bank because of one issue or the other and the bank is not close by; it is dangerous sending these children across the highway,’’ she said.

    The parent also urged the government to take nearest of residents into consideration before picking centres, adding that whatever is needed for the registration to be successful should be within a given environment.

    Mr Adams John, another parent, complained of overcrowding in the banks as a result of the limited number of banks within the area.

    John said the process took his boys three days to complete their registration processes, and called on the government to device other means of making the process less burdensome.

    “I suggest that we can go back to buying scratch cards so that the children can register at their own convenience within the given time frame by JAMB.

    “Also the issue of limited banks has to be addressed if the authorities really want the candidates to register within the four weeks period; or there may be need to extend the time,’’ he said.

    Master Sani Ismail, a candidate commended JAMB for the new innovations in the registration process.

    Ismail, however, called for an extension of time for the registration.

    “The process of registration is okay,   there has been an improvement but the problem we have is the time, it is too short.

    “This is a nationwide examination; JAMB gave four weeks which is too short. I suggest that from next year they can make it two months so that people can register.’’

    Ismail also appealed to JAMB to make the subject brochures available for students so they could cross check it before registering.

    Another candidate, Miss Tope Adigun, said she had spent three days trying to register because of the slow internet at the centre.

    Adigun called on the government to increase the registration centres, saying with the number of candidates we have this year and the challenge of poor internet it would not be sufficient.

    “If we in the city are going through all this stress imagine what people in the villages will be going through,’’ she said.

  • UTME 2017: JAMB meets with CBT centre owners

    UTME 2017: JAMB meets with CBT centre owners

    Arrangements have been concluded to have an interaction between the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and owners of Computer Based Test (CBT) centres in the country ahead of the 2017 UTME.

    This statement was made by the board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure in a statement made available to journalists on Monday in Lagos.

    According to the statement, the meeting which comes up on Tuesday at the University of Lagos is to fine tune all areas of challenges geared towards conducting a hitch-free examination in 2017.

    It said that the meeting would determine the number of centres to be used for 2017 all CBT Unified Tertiary Matriculation Board (UTME) exercise.

    “These are centres that must have a minimum of 250 and above terminals (computers).

    “We will not hesitate to disqualify any centre that falls short of the requirements,’’ the statement said.

    “We will equally not compromise on the selection of these centres as they will fully be responsible for our registration and examinations and other related responsibilities that they will be saddled with from time to time as we introduce new measures.’’

    It added that the board decided to come face to face with owners of these centre to ensure it got first-hand information on the challenges they were faced with in the course of the examinations.

    “As partners in progress, we need to sit down on a round table and tell each other the truth so as to get to the root of all the hiccups.

    “We should all feel concerned even if it was just one centre that had challenges or hitches during the conduct of the last examination.

    “Nigerians expect a lot from us and we must strive not to fail them.

    “We are looking at strengthening what was done holistically to improve on the previous exercises,’’ the statement quoted the board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede as saying.

    It added that the board was committed to giving Nigerians globally accepted standard in the conduct of the examinations.

    The statement said that the board would commence the sale of application forms soon and urged prospective candidates not to patronise any self-acclaimed agent as the board had not and would not appoint any.

    It urged candidates to always visit the board’s website for information.

    The statement noted that in a few months, the board had been working tirelessly on processes that were connected to the conduct of the examination.

    It added that the board had taken stock of all the challenges that were recorded during the 2016 exercise, especially CBT centre related issues.

    It said the board had resolved to give every Nigerian child desirous of tertiary education a level playing ground to compete for the available space in these tertiary institutions.

    “We are mindful of the fact that any child that writes in a dysfunctional centre is at disadvantage.

    “All candidates must have same conditions, atmosphere and working facilities,’’ the statement said.

  • FG okays N2,500 post-UTME screening fee

    FG okays N2,500 post-UTME screening fee

    The Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders in the tertiary education sub-sector have agreed on N2,500 as the fee for post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) screening.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Prof. Michael Faborode, the Secretary-General, Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Faborode said the agreement was reached after a deliberation of officials of the ministry, federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

    The secretary-general said while it was agreed that the post-UTME screening should be sustained following the scrapping of the Computer Based Test (CBT).

    “From the statement made by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Folashade Yemi-Esan at the meeting, there is no objection to screening by universities as long as it is not another CBT.

    She agreed that universities should advertise and the maximum fee that should be charged for the screening should be N2,500 – bank charges inclusive.’’

    According to the statement, the association will formally convey its stance to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu.

    NAN reports that Adamu’s recent announcement of the ban on post-UTME had raised a lot anxiety among stakeholders.