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Tag: Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB)

  • JAMB candidates seek extension of registration deadline

    JAMB candidates seek extension of registration deadline

    Prospective candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Friday described ongoing registration process as very slow, cumbersome, expensive and stressful.

    Some of the candidates who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Kaduna and Kano, called on JAMB to extend the period for the registration.

    They also urged JAMB to revert to the former registration process, which according to them is more easier and friendly.

    One of them, Emmanuel Augustine told NAN at JAMB office in Kaduna that was yet to complete the registration one week after he began.

    “You would first open a personal profile in JAMB websites using an active personal e-mail address, proceed to the bank, pay for the form, get a Personal Identification Number (PIN) and then proceed to the CBT centre, pay for registration fee and be captured.

    “But I tell you, it is not as easy as it sounds, because it takes days for one to get his PIN.

    “In Jaiz Bank for example, where I paid for the form, it took five days before I got my PIN and I was going there every day.

    “You can imagine the expenses, and I am still struggling to get registered.

    “You can see the crowd; I was here since 6am, but I am not still sure if I will get registered today,” Augustine said.

    Another candidate, Victor Jacob, said it took him two weeks, from the day of the commencement of the registration till March 31 to get registered.

    “Event at that, I am asked to return on Monday for thump print.

    “Before coming to JAMB office, I was going to Dembo International School, but the crowd is huge, I spent days without making progress.

    “From there, I went to another centre in Kakuri and the story was the same.

    “We are suffering, and we spend huge amount of money on transport and feeding everyday for the past two weeks for a registeration that is not supposed to take more than 30 minutes using the old system,” he said.

    Similarly, Adamu Alhassan, said he paid for the JAMB form at Zenith Bank in Zaria, last week Monday, but could not get his PIN, as such was unable to proceed with the registration processes.

    “Could you believe that I have been going back to the bank everyday only for the officials to tell me today that I have to come to JAMB office to get my PIN and I have been here since 9:30 but no one attended to me,” Alhassan said.

    On her part, Rebecca Jatau, revealed that café owners have taken advantage of the cumbersome process to exploit prospective candidates.

    According to her, some café owners are collecting from N500 and above to open e-mail and personal profile for prospective candidates.

    “Although I was able to pay for JAMB form in Union Bank and got my PIN same day, I had to pay N500 in a Café to create a personal profile in the JAMB website”.

    Mrs Kubai Ayuba, another prospective candidate, told NAN at Dambo International School Barnawa, one of the CBT centres, that she started the registration process a week ago.

    “I managed to pay for the form on Friday last week in Jaiz Bank, but could not get my PIN until yesterday, Thursday.

    “When I came back yesterday, I was told to go and pay another N700 for the registration, which I did, but as am talking to you now, I don’t know when I would be registered considering the crowd.

    “We prefer the old process where Cafes are involved and one can walk into any of the registered cafés and get registered in less than an hour,” Ayuba said.

    However, one of the registration officers at Dambo International School, Micah Gagara blamed the slow pace of the registration on network failure and applicants disregard to strict guidelines.

    “Beside internet network that slows down the registration process, some of the applicants would make payment in the bank without a functional e-mail, some have inconsistent names, confusing or incomplete information,” Gagara said.

    When contacted, JAMB Coordinator in Kaduna State, Mr Emmanuel Aduku declined comment, saying he had to seek clearance from JAMB Headquarters in Abuja.

    In Kano, prospective candidates are also facing similar problems, with CBT centres unable to register candidates due to persistent network failure.

    One of the candidates, Sani Umar said he had been going to Rainbow Tech CBT Centre at Rijiyar Zaki along BUK road for over four days without getting registered.

    “For the past four days I have been going to the centre but up to this time I am speaking with you I have not completed the registration,” he said.

    Another female candidate, Aisha Musa said poor network in most of the registration centres had discouraged many candidates, who kept coming without being registered.

    “I know some candidates who completed the registration forms but they are yet to have their thumbprint due to poor network at the cafes,” she said.

    She called on JAMB to ease the candidates’ stress by extending the period for the registration to reduce the hardships being encountered by candidates.

    A NAN Correspondent who monitored the exercise in Kano metropolis, reports that large number of candidates have besieged CBT centres waiting to be registered.

    At M-net Internet Cafe, some of the candidates urged JAMB to extend the deadline for the registration.

    “Unless the board extends the registration period many candidates may not register which means they will not sit for the examination this year,” Usman Bello, one of the candidates said.

     

  • I was asked to pay $11,550 for doubtful PHD degree – JAMB Registrar

    I was asked to pay $11,550 for doubtful PHD degree – JAMB Registrar

    The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Is-haq Oloyede told a Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday how he was almost swindled of $11,550 by some individuals behind a suspicious university who offered to award him a doctorate degree at that amount.

    Prof Oloyede, who was in court to testify as the second prosecution witness in the trial of Prof David Iornem, said the incident happened in 2012 when he was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin.

    Prof Iornem is being tried by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission (ICPC) on a 3-count for allegedly operating an illegal university and obtaining under false pretence.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, E. C. Otti, said he became suspicious when he received a letter from one Prof David Iornem, informing him about the offer of professional and academic doctorate degree of the Commonwealth University, Belize, and requiring him to pay a total of $11,550.

    Prof Oloyede said, on receiving the letter from Prof Iornem, and having not applied for the degree, he became suspicious about the offer from the supposed Commonwealth University, a development that informed his decision to report to the National University Commission for investigation.

    The JAMB registrar said he had never met Prof Iornem before Wednesday when he saw him in person in court.

    “When I was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and also, the Chairman, Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, I got a letter from Prof David Iornem, offering me a professional and academic doctorate degree for the sum of $11,550.

    “I suspected that that was not proper for an academic and professional doctorate degree to be so awarded without any application. I did not apply. I considered the offer unethical. I therefore, wrote to the regulator of universities, the Executive Secretary, National University Commission (NUC). And I attached the letter I received from the Commonwealth University.

    “My intention was to ensure that the NUC investigate to establish the propriety or impropriety of the action. The degree he (Prof Iornem) offered to award me was a professional and academic degree of Commonwealth University, Belize.

    “From exposure, I have about four decades of university life as a teacher and I am very familiar with university system all over the world. I also suspected, given my position in the university globally, I suspected that that university was non-existent.

    “I knew this because as at then, I was on the board of the International Association of Universities (IAU), I was a member of the Governing Board of the Association of Commonwealth Universities; I was also a member of the Board of the Association of African Universities.

    “I was the President of the Association of African Universities. I was also the Interim Secretary General of the Association of West African Universities.

    “All these compelled me to raise the alarm, which is did to the NUC. I considered it a duty.

    “The process of obtaining a professional or academic degree is for the candidate to apply, after which he will be notified about the outcome of his/her application.

    “This is different from a honorary degree. The letter to me stated that it was academic and professional degree, not honorary. If it were honorary, I would have turned it down,” Prof Oloyede said.

    The JAMB boss, who stood in the witness box for over three hours, said after his letter to the NUC, he was invited by the ICPC to make written statement, which he did.

    H said by the letter from the Commonwealth University, he was required to pay $9,500 for the doctorate degree, $1,500 for seminar and $550 for academic gown.

    After he identified the letter from the Commonwealth University, his letter to NUC dated July 23, 2012 and his statement to the ICPC, the three documents were admitted in evidence by the court.

    Under cross examination by defence lawyer, Chris Alashi, Prof Oloyede said he had First Class in his first degree in Arabic, a Masters in Islamic Studies and PHD in Islamic Studies, with specialisation in Islamic Jurisprudence.

    He said he has over 50 academic publications to his credit and has attended over 500 academic related seminars and workshops both locally and internationally in his over 40 years as an academic.

    He said he became a professor in 1995. He said he was aware that of recent, some countries have started to award professional doctorate degrees in professional fields.

    Trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed later adjourn further proceedings to June 8, for Prof Oloyede to continue his testimony.

  • JAMB to begin sale of 2017 UTME form

    JAMB to begin sale of 2017 UTME form

    … Expects 1.7m candidates to apply – Registrar, Prof. Oloyede

    The Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Tuesday hinted that the body would soon commence the sale of the application form for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination(UTME).
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    Oloyede said an estimated 1.7 million candidates are expected register and sit for the Computer Based Test (CBT) across the country, adding that they are also increasing the capacity of the CBT centres to maximise their effectiveness to examine more candidates within a given date.

    The Chief Executive Officer of JAMB made this known at the Green Legacy, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while fielding questions from journalists shortly after a meeting of the JAMB officials and other stakeholders regarding the new Information Technology being introduced into the system to make it less stressful to candidates.

    According to him, the body is working with the possibility of conducting a “mock examination” not only to test its preparedness with the new technology, but also to examine some people that are desirous of knowing their competence with the JAMB examination.

    He noted that stakeholders meeting was predicated on the need for people to make inputs into the new ICT facilities and critique it before putting them into use.

    Oloyede said Nigeria is ripe for an ICT – driven examinations, disclosing that the innovation would definitely unsettle some people, who hitherto were short-changing JAMB through “fraud” and in some cases, duplication of PIN.

    “What we are doing appears to be suitable to majority of our stakeholders. It is a surprise to us that we are apprehensive of what we wanted to do that maybe we are going to create problem. We are more confident to go along with the sale of the form for 2017 UTME examination.

    “I believed that Nigeria is ripe for this. Nigeria is more advanced than some of these countries. At least, we have three or four countries that are observing our examination and they want to  go the way of the conduct of the examination.

    “We are expecting 1.7 million candidates and we want to make sure we satisfy these candidates within a week or there about. That is why we are increasing the capacity of the Computer Based Test centres to be able to examine more candidates within a given date

    “If we are talking about 1.5 million candidates, it means that in a given day about 60,000 or 70,000 candidates will take the examination.

    “We have invited stakeholders to critique the process because we don’t want to go in the wrong direction. We are creating some ICT facilities and we want our stakeholders, prospective candidates, respected scholars, institutions, civil societies to come together and critique what we are doing, so that we can be sure, before we go too far in a wrong direction.

    “This is with a view of harvesting good ideas that could improve what we are doing. We thought we are coming here to get dismantled, all we have put together, but what we are having are cheers that we can do it this way, or amend it that way.

    “I must be frank with you, I cannot promise hitch free examination because we are testing certain things. We are changing certain things. We want to question the status quo and of course, we expect a fight back by interest that will be trampled upon.

    “We are going to be as sincere as possible in the direction we are going. We are going to be as flexible as humanly possible. We are not promising hitch free examination.

    “We envisaged that there will be hitches here and there, but they will not be insurmountable. Rather than promising the nation hitch free examination, we will be  promising a direction we will all be pleased with.

    “Initially there might be hiccups and of course one would not have been appointed if it is routine. I believe that I have been given a very difficult job and that is why I’m promising that it will be all smooth,” Oloyede said.

  • JAMB to reduce 180 cut-off mark

    JAMB to reduce 180 cut-off mark

    There are strong indications that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) may approve the reduction of 180 cut-off mark for admission to tertiary institutions.

    The Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq  Oloyede,  who made the disclosure during the 2nd Technical Committee Meeting for 2016 Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria,  at the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri, stated that the decision became imperative as a result of the inability of some of the institutions to implement the cut-off mark.

    According to the Registrar, “it was in a meeting of the Board of higher institutions and other Stakeholders that a decision of 180 as the 2016 National cut-off mark was reached”.

    He continued that,  “however, many Institutions, though part of the decision, have expressed concern on their inability to effect this cut-off mark as they are finding it difficult to fill a reasonable percentage of their quota if the rule is strictly applied as we insist.

    “A large number of institutions, particularly the budding ones, have applied for a waiver to enable them admit candidates who in some instances scored below 180 marks.  For some, this may sound unreasonable with the largely false impression that a large percentage of those who score above 180 and are qualified for admission cannot find any placement in our institutions.

    “I think this cry needs attention, otherwise, some of these institutions whether public or privately-owned may soon begin to wobble or even close shops.  This will be counter-productive and even defeat the Government Policy of expansion of access to higher education   and manpower development”.

    Oloyede therefore added that, “as a Board, we have studied the trend of admissions and have come up with a   finding that hardly do the institutions collectively fill their quota annually.     Indeed, in some cases, up to 50% of approved quota is wasted particularly by upright institutions which do not circumspect the rule. Unfortunately, a large number of institutions flagrantly disregarded the cut-off and many other policies yet they found a way to eventually regularize the illegal admissions through corrupt process”.

    He however noted that the new flexible cut-off will only be applicable to institutions that have exhausted the list of candidates that scored the 180 cut-off mark.

    “As a Board, we have collated the requests from the various Senates and Academic Boards and have made your pleas known to appropriate authorities . Just this morning we received a green light on flexible cut-off  mark only for institutions which have exhausted the list of candidates with 180 and above,  subject , of course to a minimum acceptable to JAMB and meeting of other pre-requisite”, he added.

    He however assured that the Board would cooperate with the various institutions in carrying out the mandates of their respective Senates and Academic Boards on admission matters, adding that, “the Board would not impose candidates on them but, as a referee, would ensure that no applicant is unjustifiably denied the opportunity of access to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.

    “In this respect, together, we should be seen in a conspicuous and proven manner that we have the interest of the Nation in mind in carrying out our statutory functions”.

    He warned that no institution, whether Federal or State, will be allowed to continue with admission of students after the November 30 deadline.

  • Don commends JAMB’s plan to cancel scratch cards

    Don commends JAMB’s plan to cancel scratch cards

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been commended by Dr Onafowokan Oluyombo, over the proposed plan to cancel the use of scratch cards for students seeking admission into higher institutions.

    The Don, an associate Professor in the Department of Accounting, Pan Atlantic University (PAU), Lagos, gave the commendation on Tuesday, adding that the proposed plan of JAMB was a welcome development that would reduce sharp practices as well as the exploitation of parents.

    The Don also said that JAMB’s plan would make parents visit banks across the country and make payment for their wards.

    Oluyombo, however, urged JAMB management to ensure that charges across banks in the country were uniform.

    “’Banks should not be able to charge differently because it will still lead to irregularities if such act is allowed,’’ he said.

    Oluyombo advised JAMB to ensure that the monopoly by banks was broken by involving many financial institutions across the country.

    NAN reports that the board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyode, had during the National Executive Council Meeting of Non-Academic Staff of Union on Oct. 18 in Abuja said that JAMB would cancel the use of scratch cards.

    NAN also reports that Oloyode said the policy would commence next year to check excesses of banks and vendors who exploit parents.