The Nation Newspaper

Tag: JAMB

  • JAMB seeks collaboration on CBT

    The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has said continuous collaboration with stakeholders and institutions would strengthen the use of its computer based tests (CBT) for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

    He stated this when he paid a visit to the Chancellor, Victory International Institute of Theology and Education, Prof. Sam Ale in Kwali, Abuja.

    According to him, government alone cannot provide the facilities needed for the administration of examination, stressing the need for partnership with other institutions and credible private institutions.

    Prof. Oloyede said in a statement issued by the institute in Abuja at the weekend that the board would ensure that every unit of CBT centre had 250 units of computers.

    “JAMB would continue to work in collaboration with institutions in an effort to standardize all Computer Based Tests,” he stated.

    The JAMB registrar urged stakeholders in the sector to make contributions as well as sacrifices for national development.

    While commending the management of the institute for providing state of the art facilities for the training of advanced studies candidates, he also expressed the readiness of the board to partner with other institutions.

    Responding, Prof. Ale, expressed the preparedness of the institute to provide an enabling environment for JAMB examinations and training of quality candidates for advanced levels.

    He added that the institute has four schools which are affiliated to various institutions in the country.

  • JAMB registrar seeks higher institutions to decide cut-off marks

    JAMB registrar seeks higher institutions to decide cut-off marks

    Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar  Is-haq Oloyede yesterday stressed the need to allow tertiary institutions to decide their cut-off marks.

    He argued that a situation where universities, polytechnics and colleges of education are subjected to the same cut-off marks was no longer tenable because it prevents the institutions from admitting candidates of their choice.

    Prof. Oloyede, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by its Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, noted that institutions should be allowed to determine the kind of candidates they want to admit.

    “The uniformity of cut-of marks doesn’t make any sense when colleges and polytechnics admit for National Certificate of Education (NCE) and diplomas while universities admit for degrees yet we subject them to the same cut-off marks, thereby starving these tier of institutions from admitting candidates, who if not engage may likely become easy prey to social vices.

    “This means that if a university want 250 as minimum cut-off marks, why not and if another want less so is it. If a polytechnic like Yaba Tech wants 250 as cut-off marks, let them admit and if Gboko Polytechnic in Benue State, where I come from want less than 200, let them admit.

    “Institutions should be known for their individual quality and not collective standard. This will foster positive competition for the overall good of our tertiary institutions,” he said in the statement.

    He expressed worry over the class opportunities as it affects the distribution of admission resources.

    Prof. Oloyede said he was deeply concerned over the fact that most policies were geared towards accommodating the interest of the elite only and leaving the children of the poor to suffer unjustly.

    He said: “The rich have multiple opportunities which include going abroad for studies while the poor only have the opportunity of struggling for the scarce spaces here.

  • On JAMB’s inconsequential grading policy

    The popular saying goes: youths are tomorrow’s leaders. There are great expectations for the hope of a better future are on the youth. This has prompted many parents to work very hard to educate their children to make them have better lives in the future. Taking a good look at our education system, there has been so many polices, which has eroded quality in the sector.

    Compared with some countries in Africa, our educational sector seems to be lagging behind in many ways. The challenges majority of students face yearly, especially when writing important examinations, such as the ones organised by West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is nothing to write home about.

    There have been a lot of cases of fraud and examination malpractices. Miracle centres has taken over the space and many students no longer read for exams. Some students are faced with the issue of fake admission in the university; some realised earlier, while some get to know late.

    There have been concerns over the quality of graduates being produced by our institutions. Many graduates finished with ‘good results’ but cannot defend their grades. Lecture rooms are not adequate to cater for students, leaving lecturers to be absent at lectures and give out handouts.

    Recently, JAMB came out with a new policy which is its official grading system for 2016/2017 session based on point. JAMB has a grade point for every score for candidates, which ranges from 180 to 400 and the grading scores also range from 20 to 60 points. JAMB allocated points to O’level results according to the candidates’ grades in either of WAEC or NECO. It is 10 points. But if it is combined results, it is two points.

    JAMB went ahead to allocate points to each grades, which ranges from A to C. It is six to three points for each grade. JAMB, NECO and WAEC are different bodies, but why will points be allocated to O’Level results. If JAMB has decided not to use post-United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in giving admission to candidate, it is fine. But, many may not buy the idea of allocating points and marks to examinations it did not conduct.

    Before the coming of this new policy, we all knew it is not all candidates that would be lucky to pass their ‘O’Level in a single sitting. I dare say majority of the candidates that are being offered admission use combined results.

    Has JAMB looked into a situation where majority of those who sit for ‘O’Level examination perform woefully in Mathematics and English Language, and have to combine or sit for the papers they did not make? Are we saying this set of students would be given two points for combined result? This is not fair. What would be the fate of the students that fall into this category?

    JAMB should have graded every candidate according to his ability, which is the normal score they deserve. This will not discourage candidates who combine of O’Level result. This grading method would frustrate the efforts of candidates seeking for admission in higher institutions. It is making the whole process to look like a lottery, rather than an examination.

    If review of the policy is not done, it will continue to worsen the already bad situation in our education system. It might get to a point that our so-called future leaders would pay less attention to education.

    Ultimately, this would have negative effects on the future of our dear future leaders.  This is a clarion call on JAMB to rescind the grading policy. Future of many youths is at stake.

    Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved Prof Dibu Ojerinde of his duty and admission lists being withdrawn, we don’t know what will become of this policy under the leadership of Prof Ishaq Oloyede, but let us hope that a holistic review would be done as quickly as possible.

  • JAMB seeks suspension of amendment Act

    JAMB seeks suspension of amendment Act

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has appealed to the National Assembly to suspend the amendment of its Act.

    The Senate last week began amendment of the board’s Act to extend the validity of JAMB result by three years.

    JAMB’s Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede made the appeal when he visited the  Senate Committee on Tertiary Education.

    Oloyede, in a statement in Abuja yesterday by its Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said the bill was a product of acrimony and if passed would be counter-productive.

    “An appeal has been made to the National Assembly to suspend the process of the amendment to allow the Board and tertiary institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders to go back to the roundtable for discussion at a conducive atmosphere, as all agreed to work together for the benefit of the Nigerian child,” the statement said.

    He also called on the Federal Government to revert to making a serving vice chancellor chairman of the governing board of JAMB for harmonious relationship.

    The board, he explained, was a creation of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, adding that it will only be proper for them to be clearly recognised as active stakeholders to avoid any acrimony.

    The registrar said: “Between 1977 to 1993 only serving vice-chancellors were made chairmen of the board, from Prof Oladipo Akinkugbe, VC University of Ilorin; Prof Donald Ekong, VC University of Port Harcourt; Prof Adamu Baike, VC university of Benin; Prof Mahdi Adamu, VC University of Sokoto; and Prof Isa Mohammed, VC University of Abuja.

    “This practice, which promoted harmony and quality on the board’s matriculation activities have since been forgotten or neglected.

    “In recognition of the harmonious relationship that existed between the board and the institutions pre-1993, it may be most appropriate to revert to the early days of JAMB.”

    The registrar assured the Association of Vice -Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU) of his determination to ensure a smooth relationship with all institutions.

    He told the AVCNU that the Board would discontinue use of scratch cards for any of its services and use the platform of pin vending.

    “This is as a result of its consistent subjection to fraudulent practices. It is archaic and the board’s drive to also promote accountability in line with government zero tolerance for corruption.

    “This new system will be accessible through the payment options of; Web payment, ATM issued cards (Visa, verve and Mastercard), online QuickTeller, ATM payment, QuickTeller mobile application and Bank Branch case /card,” the statement added.

  • On JAMB’s inconsequential grading policy

    The popular saying goes: youths are tomorrow’s leaders. There are great expectations for the hope of a better future are on the youth. This has prompted many parents to work very hard to educate their children to make them have better lives in the future. Taking a good look at our education system, there has been so many polices, which has eroded quality in the sector.

    Compared with some countries in Africa, our educational sector seems to be lagging behind in many ways. The challenges majority of students face yearly, especially when writing important examinations, such as the ones organised by West African Examination Council (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is nothing to write home about.

    There have been a lot of cases of fraud and examination malpractices. Miracle centres has taken over the space and many students no longer read for exams. Some students are faced with the issue of fake admission in the university; some realised earlier, while some get to know late.

    There have been concerns over the quality of graduates being produced by our institutions. Many graduates finished with ‘good results’ but cannot defend their grades. Lecture rooms are not adequate to cater for students, leaving lecturers to be absent at lectures and give out handouts.

    Recently, JAMB came out with a new policy which is its official grading system for 2016/2017 session based on point. JAMB has a grade point for every score for candidates, which ranges from 180 to 400 and the grading scores also range from 20 to 60 points. JAMB allocated points to O’level results according to the candidates’ grades in either of WAEC or NECO. It is 10 points. But if it is combined results, it is two points.

    JAMB went ahead to allocate points to each grades, which ranges from A to C. It is six to three points for each grade. JAMB, NECO and WAEC are different bodies, but why will points be allocated to O’Level results. If JAMB has decided not to use post-United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in giving admission to candidate, it is fine. But, many may not buy the idea of allocating points and marks to examinations it did not conduct.

    Before the coming of this new policy, we all knew it is not all candidates that would be lucky to pass their ‘O’Level in a single sitting. I dare say majority of the candidates that are being offered admission use combined results.

    Has JAMB looked into a situation where majority of those who sit for ‘O’Level examination perform woefully in Mathematics and English Language, and have to combine or sit for the papers they did not make? Are we saying this set of students would be given two points for combined result? This is not fair. What would be the fate of the students that fall into this category?

    JAMB should have graded every candidate according to his ability, which is the normal score they deserve. This will not discourage candidates who combine of O’Level result. This grading method would frustrate the efforts of candidates seeking for admission in higher institutions. It is making the whole process to look like a lottery, rather than an examination.

    If review of the policy is not done, it will continue to worsen the already bad situation in our education system. It might get to a point that our so-called future leaders would pay less attention to education.

    Ultimately, this would have negative effects on the future of our dear future leaders.  This is a clarion call on JAMB to rescind the grading policy. Future of many youths is at stake.

    Now that President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved Prof Dibu Ojerinde of his duty and admission lists being withdrawn, we don’t know what will become of this policy under the leadership of Prof Ishaq Oloyede, but let us hope that a holistic review would be done as quickly as possible.

  • JAMB to scrap scratch card for UTME

    JAMB to scrap scratch card for UTME

    JOINT Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyode said yesterday the board would abolish scratch cards to register for and check results, with effect from 2017.

    Oloyode, who spoke at the National Executive Council meeting of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) in Abuja, said students would generate a PIN number for themselves from their phone or computers before registering for examinations.

    He said the board would not support a situation where banks and vendors hoard the cards, only to sell them at a higher price.

    The registrar challenged NASU to get involved in the ownership of Computer-Based Testing Centres, saying those who own the centres are businessmen merely exploiting students.

    He added that if academic-based stakeholders, such as NASU, own CBT centres, the board will be confident  the examinations will be conducted without hitch.

    Also speaking at the event, Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC) Prof. Abubakar Rasheed said the commission would build a system in line with global challenges.

    He assured the union the commission would address issues regarding its agreement with the Federal Government, adding that he has met with pro-chancellors on  the matter.

    The executive secretary said he would meet with vice chancellors of the about 140 public and private universities and other institutions affiliated to them, and state the commission’s position, which will be forwarded to the government.

    Rasheed noted that the commission would take submissions from all unions in the universities so that its memo to the minister of Education will capture every issue.

    He said: “I will lead a team of NUC management to a meeting towards the end of next week with vice chancellors of federal universities, then vice chancellors of state universities, vice chancellors of private universities, heads of institutions affiliated to universities to discuss challenges confronting the university system.

    “We will also discuss challenges inhibiting the implementation of the 2009 Federal Government/unions agreement. Within the next two weeks of concluding the discussions, I will raise a memo drawing the attention of the minister of Education to the agreement”.

    However, NASU’s General Secretary Peters Adeyemi told reporters that “government has not demonstrated the will to implement the agreement. Government is a continuum and agreements are binding on successive governments, and this government must know that. The labour unions in universities are unhappy with the way things are going in the system.

    “We think the executive secretary of NUC inherited this liability, and as a responsible union, we needed to give him an opportunity to address this problem holistically, and we think we should give him some time to see if there would be results. The result of his engagements would determine how quickly industrial action can be prevented or otherwise.”

    Adeyemi hinted that the unions may not give a lengthy time for declaration of industrial action saying  “we have waited for so long, and we are not willing to wait too long again. The government must do the needful before crisis would start in the universities, lest Nigerians say we have started again when we declare strike.

    ‘’We are calling on Nigerians to help us beg this government that our patience is running out.”

    He berating government for citing economic recession for default in the payment of salaries, pointing out that such statements show insensitivity on the part of the ruling class.

    He said: “It is wicked for anybody in government to say justify non-payment of salaries on recession. Who caused us to be in recession? Is it workers? No. We are pushed to where we are by the ruling class irrespective of the political parties they belong. It is the collusion of the ruling class that put us where we are.”

     

     

     

     

     

  • NAL hails Oloyede’s appointment as JAMB Registrar

    Nigeria Academy of Letters (NAL) on Friday hailed the appointment of Prof. Is-haq Oloyede as Registrar/Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), describing it as “a highly merited appointment.”

    A statement issued by the Spokesperson of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said the President of NAL, Prof. Olu Obafemi, made the commendation, when he led the NAL’s team, including the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, to Oloyede’s office in Bwari area of Abuja.

    Obafemi described NAL as an intellectual organisation whose sole mandate is the promotion of research and scholarship at the highest level in all branches of humanities.

    He said Oloyede is an active and dynamic member and a fellow of NAL.

    “The appointment of Prof. Is-haq Oloyede is a highly merited one not because he is a former Vice Chancellor but because he has distinguished himself in Nigeria. It is a merited appointment considering his profile and pedigree,” Obafemi stressed, adding that the Academy’s visit was to assure Oloyede of their support and collaboration with a view to ensuring that he excels in his new appointment.

  • JAMB gives Nov 30 deadline for admissions

    The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Is-haq Oloyede, has said the Board would ensure the conclusion of the 2016/2017 admission into tertiary institutions by the approved deadline of November 30.

    Oloyede, the immediate past Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, gave this assurance last Monday while declaring open the 2016 Technical Committee Meeting on Admission into the First Choice of Institutions at the Bayero University, Kano.

    At the meeting attended by Admission Officers of tertiary institutions in the country, Oloyede assured them that the Board would not usurp their powers to admit.

    The JAMB Registrar said admission would only be based on specified national policies.

    “It must be made categorically clear that the task of JAMB is coordination and not substitution of the traditional responsibilities of the Senates/Academic Boards of tertiary institutions.

    “Consequently, no candidate must emanate from any other source (JAMB inclusive) outside the list prepared and recommended by the institutions. JAMB has the right to reject candidates for non-compliance with extant rules and regulations but will not be allowed to substitute or originate any names without the prior concurrence of the institutions” he said.

    Oloyede listed the national policies to include: guidelines stipulated by the proprietors of the institutions; 60:40 (Science/Arts) ratio for conventional universities; 80:20 (Science/Arts) ratio for non-conventional universities; 70:30 (Technology/Non-Technology) ratio for National Diploma Awarding Institutions;  Use of 2016 JAMB UTME results printouts for all candidates who scored 180 and above;  adherence to subject combinations of various courses as specified by the Senate/Academic Board and included in the 2016 UTME Brochure;  adherence to the 2016 Admissions Quota as prescribed by the regulatory bodies (NUC/NBTE/NCCE); and for Federal universities, the criteria stipulated by the Federal Executive Council concerning Merit, Catchment and Educationally Less Developed States.

    “In the discharge of this national assignment, it is important that we act with focus on what is beneficial to the largest number of Nigerians. We must avoid adding to the burden of the masses of our people who rightly yearn for higher education as a veritable means of active participation in public life,” he further stressed.

    While urging Admission Officers to work hard and exhibit commitment, synergy and cooperation between JAMB and their various institutions, Oloyede assured them that he would strengthen the work of his predecessors, especially Prof. ‘Dibu Ojerinde, who lifted the Board to an enviable standard of international repute.

  • JAMB plans more examination centres in Diaspora

    JAMB plans more examination centres in Diaspora

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said it will set up more examination centres in the Diaspora to cater for candidates willing to study in Nigeria.

    JAMB’s Head of Media and Information Dr Fabian Benjamin spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, in Lagos.

    According to him, the board will ensure more candidates get an opportunity to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) within and outside the country.

    He said this would also ensure that the examination was brought closer to candidates with the constraints of coming down to Nigeria to sit for the examination.

    “We have plans of conducting this examination in more foreign countries, such as the United States, and others.

    “We are working with the embassies of such countries, which are our contacts for the project.

    “The possibility of getting this actualised depends on how fast they are able to transact the arrangement and the level of sensitisation.

    “On our part, we are ready. All it takes to conduct the examination successfully are on ground,” he told NAN.

    NAN reports that the board also conducted the 2016 Computer-Based Test (CBT) in eight countries.

    It presently conducts its examination in Cameroun, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Ghana, Republic of Benin and others.

  • I am leaving a better JAMB, says Ojerinde

    I am leaving a better JAMB, says Ojerinde

    A former Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, yesterday said he was leaving the board better than he met it after nine years.

    Prof. Ojerinde told reporters at a dinner organised to honour him in Abuja that he did everything he needed to do to move the board forward.

    According to him, his achievements would be built upon by the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

    He urged the management to continue to work to keep the philosophy on which JAMB was established.

    Prof. Ojerinde said: “I feel good that I am leaving JAMB better than we met it. I am sure the person, who has come to takeover, is going to be as good if not better than I am.

    “I have done everything I wanted to do. There is no other thing I want to do and that is why God says it is time for me to leave. That is it. No more.

    “Through the grace of God a lot of things have been done. My wish is that the management should continue the way they used to do it. We used to have a philosophy of yes, you can do it, and things are being made possible.

    Ojerinde denied reports that he was sacked by Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu over 2016 admissions’ list.

    “I was not removed because of that. After all I was not the only one replaced. Seventeen of us were replaced, so why should I be removed? I don’t think I was removed because of that,” he said.

    On reverting to paper and pencil test (PPT) as being clamoured by stakeholders, the former JAMB registrar noted that it would be one step forward and two steps backwards to embark on such decision.

    “May God forbid going backwards. We will move forward. In fact, they should go multimedia and I think the present person will do it.

    “No I don’t believe that. That hullabaloo has also been in the system during my time. When I combined UTME with MPC and UME, there were hullabaloos. Before we started CBT, there were hullabaloos because of the fear of the unknown.

    “We are used to that in JAMB and we see challenges as progress. When we are challenged we face it. Nothing good comes easy,” he added.