“You can never change things in a society by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, you can only build a new model that can render the existing model obsolete’’.
Preamble
Readers of this column are implored to read the above quotation once again and they will better understand what the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is currently doing in Nigeria for Nigeria’s progress.
The changes that had caused human progress in history were often never compatible with the existing perennial traditions of those humans because of the revolutionary tendencies of those changes. Whether in the primordial or contemporary time, revolution has effectively proved to be the main determinant of human progress as it occasionally becomes inevitable in human life. The only alternative to it is stagnation. A society without revolution, no matter how randomly it may be, will surely be stagnant.
History of JAMB
When the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was established 40 years ago (1977), it came as a revolution which the then existing tradition of seeking university admission through concessional examination first tried to resist. At that time, only about six full-fledged universities were in existence in Nigeria. They were called ‘First Generation Universities’. The six Universities were Ahmadu Bello University, University of Benin, University of Ibadan, University of Ife, University of Lagos and University of Nigeria, Nsuka. Nevertheless, the first UTME conducted by JAMB took place in 1978.
Before the establishment of JAMB, university admission seekers either gained admission directly through Advanced Level of General Certificate of Education (GCE A/L) or through concessional entrance examination which could qualified them for admission into Preliminary Level.
However, with a sudden surge in the population of admission seekers, JAMB was established to ensure a uniform national standard of university education. It was meant to serve as a higher regulatory body for the conduct of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) just as the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) served at the secondary school level. The Board was established during the regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo as Military Head of State.
Stakeholders’ meeting
About three weeks ago, November 15, JAMB called a national critical stakeholders’ meeting on Plans and Modalities for Sale and Registration of 2018 UTME application forms. The attendants of the meeting included some members of National Assembly, representatives of educational institutions, regulatory agencies, CBT Centres (public and private), parents otherwise known as NAPTAN, secondary school teachers otherwise known as ANCOPSS as well as students, the labour unions, Civil Societies and the Media.
Review of 2017 UTME
Before discussions on the plan for 2018 UTME began, a review of 2017 UTME was thoroughly done by the participants. It was a sort of public assessment of the 39th UTME conducted by JAMB since its establishment.
Noted points
In that assessment, the following points were pointed out and noted: ePINs were sold through Banks and partner Institutions JAMB implemented a central ePIN vending system Other channels employed for the same purpose included Switches like Remitta & Interswitch Registration was essentially for a period of one month (with additional two weeks which the House of Representative proposed and approved as extension).
Observation
During the deliberations, the following observations were made in respect of 2017 UTME:
Extortion from candidates during profile/email creation at cyber cafes Illegal sale of eBrochure & eSyllabus CDs to candidates when those materials were meant to be free Illegal collection of gate fee at CBT Centres Illegal sale of Reading Text Usage of CBT centre emails & Telephone numbers for candidates CBT Extortion of candidates – charging fees above the approved rate Subletting Access Codes to cyber cafes Going outside the approved locations to register candidates, on & off line Duplicating biometric capturing to candidates and thereby encouraging Multiple Registration.
The 2018 UTME procedure
The following guidelines were unanimously adopted and approved by the stakeholders: Prospective candidates can start registration from their homes through the use of their cell phones to prevent extortion www.jamb.gov.ng Prospective candidates are expected to have visited the JAMB website ahead of registration to study and understand the 2018 ebrochure.
Registration process
Prospective candidates may create their profiles by writing their Surnames, First Name and Middle Name in that order (where applicable). Such profile should not exceed 38 characters with two spaces between names to make 40 characters in all using the following code to 55019. And this should be sent to JAMB. In doing this, one cell number (mobile number) can be used by one candidate only Thereafter, a confirmation code of 10 characters will be received by the candidate on the same telephone number which will be used to procure the ePIN.
Profile self help
In case of mistake in or loss of data in the process of profiling, the following process should be followed to correct the error: To correct a mistake in candidate’s name, candidates should resend a text message (from the registered number) to “CORRECT the spelling of surname or middle name or first name. Such message should be sent to 55019.
To retrieve a lost confirmation code, candidate should resend a text message (from the registered number) to the same code (55019).
JAMBS’ ePIN Selling Points and the details of the procedure for payment should be checked on JAMB’s Website.
Comment
At no time in the history of JAMB have stakeholders been involved in the process of UTME as it is now being done by the current administration in that Board. This is an indication that the real revolutionary motive of JAMB is becoming more manifest than ever before.
