The Nation Newspaper

Tag: JAMB

  • UTME: 50 exam contractors held

    FIFTY professional examination writers have been arrested in the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said yesterday.

    The board said the impostors were arrested nationwide following its intelligence gathering mechanism.

    JAMB’s spokesperson Fabian Benjamin made the revelation in the agency’s weekly bulletin.

    Fabian identified some of the professional examination writers as Masters’ degree holders, postgraduate and undergraduate students of various tertiary institutions in the country.

    He said the professional writers connived with owners and operators of Computer Based Test Centres (CBTs) to carry out the crime by engaging in multiple registrations where the fingerprints of the main candidates are captured side by side with that of the impostors.

    The bulletin reads: “The board has uncovered a group of professional examination writers who take the exams for prospective candidates for a fee.

    “As a result of intelligence gathering, over 50 of such writers have been arrested across the country.

    “Some of the fraudsters are Masters’ Degree holders, postgraduate and undergraduate students of tertiary institutions.

    “The modus operandi of these UTME syndicates was confirmed when one of the kingpins was apprehended recently.”

    Dr. Fabian said the culprit confessed to have done multiple registrations of his biometric along with several other candidates with the intention of sitting for them and collecting huge sums of money from the candidates.

    The bulletin further said: “This Development is the fundamental reason for the decision of the board to revalidate all biometrics of candidates that have taken the board’s examination in recent times.

    “This timely action would enable the board to not only fish out and dismantle these registration cartels and racketeers but also bring them to book along with their collaborators.”

    Also, Fabian said 1, 236, 316 candidates out of the 1.8 million registered has so far taken the examination.

    “A total of 1,886,238 UTME candidates are expected to sit nationwide. And, 1,236,316 candidates have so far taken their examination,” it added.

  • JAMB: Candidates narrate experiences at centres

    Candidates sitting for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination (UTME) on Thursday narrated their experiences on the conduct of the examination by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    The candidates spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.

    Over 1.8 million candidates who registered for the UTME were expected to sit for the examination from April 11 to April 15 in the 698 Computer Based Test (CBT) centres across the country.

    At the Global Distance Learning CBT centre, a candidate, Major Okeke, said the exam was well coordinated while commending the board for a smooth conduct.

    ”It did not take long before I got inside my examination hall after proper checking at the gate.

    ”The stipulated time for the exam is 120 minutes which is 2 hours but I was able to use 1 hour 30 minutes for my examination.

    ”The atmosphere is cool and calm which if JAMB can sustain, will add to the success of candidates,” he said.

    Okeke said some computer systems, however, were either not working or malfunctioning, adding that adequate inspection of the systems be made before subsequent examinations.

    He also called for the installation of up-to-date systems to enable candidates write the examination without any hitch.

    Another candidate, Jenifer Adeoye, who also sat for the exam at the cente, said the examination was conducted in a serene atmosphere.

    Read Also: JAMB to investigate inability of candidates to do biometric verification

    She added that just few candidates experienced technical hitch.

    Also, Atuora Nkemjika, said the exercise was commendable, adding that some invigilators were too harsh on the candidates.

    Nkemjika explained that harshness of invigilators could intimidate the candidates thereby making them lose confidence in themselves.

    Meanwhile, at the Digital Bridge CBT centre, Mr David Onuegbu, said the examination went well only for minor internet problems which was corrected by the officials in the centre.

    Onuegbu said he was hopeful that after the examination, the results would be fine as he did not experience any problems throughout the exams.

    ”The conduct was timely and candidates arrived on time for the examination. JAMB just needs a few improvements in some of the systems used for the examination.

    ”They need to make sure the internet facilities are working very fast because candidates have limited hours to write their exams but internet problems can cause delays as well as distabilise students,” he said.

    JAMB had de-listed 14 Computer Based Test (CBT) centres out of the 712 accredited due to infractions like technical hitch and deceit.

    Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the board registrar had said that the 698 centres left in the operations were ready for the conduct of the UTME.

  • Candidates forced to abandon WASSCE for UTME

    Some candidates writing the ongoing 2019 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for schools were not able to sit for their examination on Thursday because it clashed with the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which started the same day with three sessions scheduled daily.

    JAMB and WAEC had promised to sought out the clash in timetables which affects about 23 Entrepreneurship/Trade WASSCE subjects scheduled to hold during the six days that the UTME would last.

    SS3 candidates writing the WASSCE were scheduled to write Animal Husbandry and Store Management today (April 11, 2019) but because the time clashed with the UTME, missed the examination.

    A parent who does not wish to be named, said his daughter and about 20 others at Providence High School, Fagba, could not sit for Animal Husbandry scheduled to start 9.30am – 30 minutes after they were to write their UTME at the Lagooz CBT Centre, O’Riley Agege, Lagos.

    “My daughter could not write Animal Husbandry today. She was to write UTME at Lagooz School by 9 a.m. But the exam did not start until 11am. By the time she got back to her school, she did not meet the invigilators for (Animal Husbandry). She was not the only one affected.

    “There were about 20 of them. But their teachers told them they could get a chance to do an alternative version of the paper on the 15th,” he said.

    A teacher at Winners Treasure Kids School, Ketu, also said the clashing timetables did not affect most pupils in her school.

    A pupil from another school said nobody was affected in his school because none of them offered the subjects written on Thursday.

    Meanwhile, the UTME went well in centres monitored by The Nation.

    At Connection Computer training Institute, Cele, Ojo, accreditation and biometrics of candidates started late and was slow.

    There were four sessions for the exam – 7am, 9am, 1:30pm and 3:00pm.

    Miss Shittu Ronke, a candidate in the first batch, said the examination went well save for minor delays.
    ‘’I started the examination after 8 and finished after 10. I am a science student. I did English, Chemistry, Biology and physics. The physics was hard for me but I did my best. I am happy because my computer did not trip off during the examination. After the examination, we were told to stay in a room from there we queued up and thumb printed out’’.

    Mr Kalu Uche, another candidate in the second batch, also said his system did not malfunction.

    However, a female candidate, who was meant to write Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English 7am, missed her examination.

    Read Also: JAMB to investigate inability of candidates to do biometric verification

    She said she was late because she lived too far from the CBT Centre. She got to the centre some minutes to 8am.

    The candidate who identified herself as Oge, blamed her lateness on traffic.

    ‘’I stay at Ota. I left the house around to 6am this morning. On my way, there was traffic. When registering, I picked a centre closer to my place which is Festac but I was posted here. I was told to write a letter to the Jamb Zonal Regional Office if I have a reasonable excuse,’’ she said.

    A parent who simply called himself Mr Orji, said stopping Oge from writing the exam was pure wickedness.

    ‘’With this new order now, a girl missed her examination and there is no way or remedy for it. She was asked to write a letter to the jamb headquarters office. For me, if they had allowed her to write before immediately she came, she will almost be true by now. It is just pure wickedness,” he said.

    Speaking on the conduct of the examination, Mr Kayode Gbenga, a parent urged Jamb to improve on their biometrics.

    ‘’With what I have seen, JAMB is trying. But they should improve on their biometrics. In my opinion, thumb printing out should be done immediately after the examination. Why do the candidates have to stay in a room, queue up before they thumbprint out. It is a long process,’’ he said.

  • System failure disrupts JAMB UTME in Kaduna

    Persistent system failure characterised the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Danbo International School Kaduna.

    Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the exercise in Kaduna on Thursday,  reports that the examination, which was supposed to last for two hours lasted for four hours at the centre.

    750 students wrote the examination at the centre, with the first batch, made up of 250 candidates expected to write from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. but could not start until around 9:00 a.m. and finished around 12:00 p.m.

    The second batch that was to commence at 10:00 a.m., could not do so until around 12:00 p.m. because all the computer systems tripped-off few minutes after commencement of the examination due to power cut.

    Other systems were bad and had to be replaced with back up, while others kept going off at different intervals while the students were writing the examination.

    One of the candidates, Akintola Isaac told NAN that his system tripped-off three times, adding that any time it tripped, he started all over again.

    Akintola, who sat for the emanation for the second time, added that the consistent failure of the system did not allow him to finish the examination before he was asked to leave the hall.

    Read also: WAEC, JAMB working on clashing timetables

    “We barely commenced the examination when all the system in the hall went off. After getting them running again, my system tripped-off three times and it takes 10 to 20 minutes to get it working again.

    “In the long run, I only finished two papers and was on the third one when I was asked to leave the hall that my time is up.

    “When I complained to the JAMB officials and appealed to allow me write again, they told me there is nothing they can do.

    Am still appealing to JAMB to give me another opportunity because it is not my fault,” he said.

    Continue in page 2

  • We’re working on clashing timetables, says WAEC, JAMB

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said it would work out the clash between its timetable for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School candidates and that of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which begins tomorrow.

    WAEC Nigeria’s Head, Public Affairs, Mr. Demianus G. Ojijeogu, told The Nation at the examining body’s headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, that the Council was in touch with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and would work out the clash “internally and administratively”.

    He assured that candidates would not have to sacrifice one examination for the other.

    “I assure you that no candidate would miss their exams. We are working on it. The JAMB Registrar is in touch with the WAEC Head of National Office and we will sort it out internally,” he said.

    JAMB Public Relations Officer, Dr Fabian Benjamin, also said the board had received assurance from WAEC that there would be no clash.

    “The Registrar has reached out to the HNO and he was assured that there would be no clash,” he said.

    According to the WASSCE timetable, WAEC scheduled two subjects, Animal Husbandry (Alternative B) 2 (Essay) and Store Management 2 (Essay), to be written 9:30am-11:30am – the same time some candidates would be busy with the UTME which would hold in Computer Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide. Animal Husbandry (Alternative B) 1 Objective and Store Management 1 (Objective) was scheduled for 11:30am-12:10pm.

    Read Also: WAEC gives 1,050 tools to 21 schools

    A parent, Mr Suleiman Olagunju from Akure expressed concern that his daughter was to write Animal Husbandry same time as her UTME tomorrow.

    He said: “I called the JAMB office and was told they were aware and would do something about it. But up till now nothing has been done. It was JAMB that rescheduled its examination because of the elections. That is the reason for this clash. WAEC timetable for the examination had been fixed.”

    The UTME is to last for one week. Meanwhile, WAEC has scheduled practical sessions for about 20 subjects between Monday, April 15, 2019 and Thursday, April 19, 2019 from 9:30am to 4.45pm each day. They include Metalwork, Home Management, Food and Nutrition, Arabic 3 (Oral), French 3 (Oral), Physical Education, Clothing and Textiles, Foods and Nutrition, Home Management, Music, Applied Electricity, Basic Electricity, Health Science, Health Education and Fisheries.

    The 2019 WASSCE for School Candidates began on Monday with three subjects, Catering Craft Practice, Marketing and Salesmanship.

  • UTME: Police warn students against malpractice

    The Ogun Police Command on Tuesday warned students sitting for the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to desist from any form of malpractice and avoid getting into trouble.

    DSP Bimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ota, Ogun.

    NAN reports that no fewer than 1.8 million Candidates will be sitting for the UTME Examinations organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), starting across the country on April 11.

    Oyeyemi reminded the students that examination malpractice is an offence and that anyone caught violating the law would be arrested.

    Read Also: Police nab man with ‘human parts‘

    “The police has the power under the laws to prosecute anybody caught in any form of malpractice during the JAMB examination,” he said.

    The PPRO said that the police would be in various centres in the state to monitor and ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

  • NSCDC deploys 39 officers to man UTME centres in Niger

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Niger Command, has deployed 39 personnel to provide security for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in different parts of the state.

    Mr Phillip Ayuba, Corps Commandant in the state made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Tuesday.

    He said there would be security in the 17 computer – based centres for the 11th conduct of the UTME in Niger, which kicked off on Tuesday.

    Ayuba said that two personnel would provide security in each of the centres, while five personnel from the headquarters would supervise the exercise across the state.

    The commandant said that the monitoring team had been constituted to carefully monitor the conduct of the exercise in the state.

    Read Also: JAMB: Candidates who miss UTME to wait till next year

    He explained that the corps would work with the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to ensure security at the centres before, during and after the computer-based test.

    Ayuba urged prospective candidates to be law abiding, adding that the NSCDC personnel would be professional in carrying out their mandate to ensure a hitch-free examination.

    He also warned parents against malpractices as anyone found wanting would be arrested and prosecuted.

  • JAMB: Candidates who miss UTME to wait till next year

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said that any candidate who miss this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation examination for any reason would Hve to wait till next year to retake it.

    The board said it would not reschedule the 2019 UTME for any candidate.

    JAMB Head of Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, stated this on Monday in Abuja.

    He urged all candidates writing the UTME to print their examination slips before Thursday.

    Read also: JAMB records 4.01 per cent drop in applications received in 2018

    He said, “The examination will? Start on Thursday and we are urging all the candidates to ensure that they print their notification slips? before Thursday. This is important so that candidates can know their schedules.

    “This is because the board will not reschedule the exams for anybody.

    “If anyone misses the examination, such has missed it till next year.”

    He said the board has not restored the 14 computer-based test centers that were de-listed during the conduct of its mock examination on April 1st.

    “The 14 CBT centres delisted remain so. We don’t have any addition at the moment.”

    Benjamin also said that the two JAMB officials who were attacked in Lagos State Polytechnic last Monday were still recuperating in the hospital as of last Friday when he heard from them.

    “As of Friday, they were in the hospital. But today (Monday), I have not got across to them, but they are getting better now,” he added.

    The 2019 UTME is expected to start on Thursday this week in 698 CBT centers nationwide.

     

  • 3 easy ways to reprint your UTME slip

    If you intend to sit for the UTME 2019 examination, you should be aware of the ongoing registration slip reprinting. Although you must have gone through the rigours of printing the slip at the point of registration, it is sacrosanct to reprint before the closing date. This is because the initial slip given to the candidates does not include the examination centre, time, date and seat number.

    Moreover, no candidate would be let into any CBT centre without the slip containing the necessary information mentioned above.

    Follow the procedures to successfully reprint the 2019 JAMB examination slip:

    Method 1: Reprint using E-mail address

    1.       Login to your email address

    2.       In your inbox, a message would appear from JAMB. If otherwise, make sure to check your spam folder for the message.

    3.       Download and open the message which contains an attachment which is the JAMB slip

    4.       Print out the file (PDF Format) using the Ctrl + P buttons

    Method 2: Reprint from JAMB website

    1.       Go to JAMB website @ jamb.org.ng/PrintExamSlip/PrintExaminationSlip.

    2.       Log on to your profile after providing the necessary details (e-mail address and password).

    3.       Put in your registration number in the provided space and click reprint.

    4.       The information on your examination centre, time and seat number would be displayed on the slip.

    5.       Click on Print or press Ctrl + P button on the keyboard to print out.

    Method 3:  Reprint from JAMB Profile dashboard

    1.       Go to JAMB website

    2.       Click on e-facility Account /Log in

    3.       Input your e-mail address and password in the provided space

    4.       Click on ‘Login’ to view your JAMB profile dashboard

    5.       Click on bold green text “Reprint your examination slip” on the top right hand corner of the screen

    6.       Fill in your registration number and click ‘Reprint’

    7.       Proceed to print out the document by clicking on the Ctrl + P buttons on the keyboard

    Note the followings:

    ·       The examination slips are sent out in batches spanning across 5-7 days

    ·       You are advised to print 2 Copies of the Exam Slip because you would be required to submit 1 of them at the Exam Centre. You will then keep the other copy for reference.

    ·         You are not advised to use Opera Mini. Instead, use Chrome browser

    ·       Your JAMB slip can ONLY be reprinted from the methods listed above

    ·       The Jamb 2019 Examination will begin on the 11th of April, 2019

  • JAMB records 4.01 per cent drop in applications received in 2018

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) recorded a 4.01 per cent drop in the applications received in 2018.

    The NBS, in its JAMB Applications and Admitted Candidates by State and Gender within Faculty Data (2017-2018) posted on its website, stated that applications received in 2018 were 1.65 million as against the 1.72 million received in 2017.

    This, it said, represented about 4.01 per cent drop in comparison to the total applications received in 2017.

    Similarly, candidates admitted in 2018 were 549,763 as against the 566,719 admitted candidates in 2017.

    The report said the fall in total admitted candidates in 2018 was about 2.99 per cent, compared to the total admitted candidates in 2017.

    A further breakdown of the data showed that 902,176 applications received in 2018 were from males while 750,951 applications received were from female applicants.

    Read Also: 2019 UTME slips: JAMB urges candidates to adhere strictly to printing order

    The bureau said 952,436 applications received in 2017 were from males while the remaining 769,833 applications received were from female applicants.

    In 2018, the bureau also said 302,183 male candidates were admitted as against 315,678 male candidates admitted in 2017 while 247,580 female candidates were admitted in 2018 as against 251,041 female candidates admitted in 2017.

    Data for the report was supplied administratively by JAMB while it was verified and validated by NBS.

    According to NBS, data in the report is restricted to test-based admissions and does not cover admissions not determined by official tests and examinations conducted by JAMB.