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Tag: Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB

  • UTME: JAMB urges candidates to crosscheck data

    UTME: JAMB urges candidates to crosscheck data

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has urged prospective candidates for its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to crosscheck the data on their registration forms for the last time on May 6.

    The board’s Head of Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the call in an interview with the News Agency if Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

    The call comes ahead of the 2017 UTME scheduled for May 13 across 633 centres nationwide.

    NAN reports that registration of candidates for the examination was closed by the board by 12 midnight on Friday, May 5.

    According to Benjamin, the call for the crosschecking of data by prospective candidates was to ensure total inclusiveness.

    He added that the board intended to ensure that no candidate was left out during the examination due to one reason or the other.

    “All candidates who desire to do any change on their registration details are urged to do so today as the platform closes finally by 9 p.m. of Saturday May 6.

    “We are giving all the candidates the last chance to ensure that everyone is carried along and provided with equal opportunity.

    “We also want to avoid a situation whereby candidates will have cause to complain of one incident or the other just before the commencement of the examination,’’ Benjamin said.

  • UTME: JAMB vows to deal with erring CBT operators

    UTME: JAMB vows to deal with erring CBT operators

    The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Friday said the organization would sanction any operator of computer based centres (CBT) who would want to sabotage this year’s unified matriculation examination.

    About 1.7 million candidates are expected to sit for the examination next Saturday.

    Prof. Oloyede, during the final briefing on the 2017 unified tertiary matriculation examination for computer based test centres proprietors in Abuja on Friday, said any CBT operator caught sabotaging the examination would be severely dealt with.

    He said: “The truth is that we are going to sanction some of them who misbehave and we mean it. We need to at least caution them. I will not go into some of those things I mentioned to them. You need to send some correct signal to some people.

    “We have put some things in place to reduce malpractices and we have also sent the correct signal to the people that whoever is caught will be severely dealt with.

    Prof. Oloyede said 635 CBT centres would be used for the conduct of the examination nationwide.

    He appealed to the centre owners to ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations in the various centres.

    “My colleagues, CBT centre owners, we want to appeal to you; let your centre to be put in proper shape for our examination. The mock examination has revealed a lot about the atrocities of many of the CBT centre owners ranging from LAN to inadequate facilities.

    “All the things you put in place, our officers came and certified those things we later learnt you went to rent those things.

    “I want to appeal to you to please talk to your colleagues so that we do not handle this very important national assignment in a way that will show that we are not patriotic. I think the nation requires of us the best we can give in these CBT centres.

    He also said the agency has tackled issues of multiple registration which some candidates are involved in.

    “One major problem is multiple registration and that we have tried to tackle. Even the issue of carrying jottings into examination hall will be reduced if the examination body is careful enough.

    “We have tried our best to put in place things that will make cheating in the examination not attractive. Whoever is caught doing what he or she is not expected to do we will allow the full weight of the law to come down on the person,” he added.

     

  • JAMB releases results of mock UTME

    JAMB releases results of mock UTME

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has released results of the Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) conducted on Saturday.

    The Head, Information and Media of the board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Thursday in Lagos that 150,000 candidates registered for the mock examination nationwide.

    The examination was initially scheduled to hold on April 8 but was postponed to April 29 due to some hitches.

    Benjamin said the results of the mock examination had been uploaded to the board’s website.

    “We have finished marking the scripts and uploaded the results to our website.

    “We call on all candidates that participated in the examination to check on their results on our website.

    “However, these results have nothing to do or add to the main examination scheduled to begin on May 13.

    “So, we will not want those who did not participate in the mock to entertain any fear, because it will not take anything away from the main examination.

    “We also want to inform all our stakeholders that registration for this 2017 UTME will officially close by 12.00 midnight of May 5.

    “No fewer than 1.7 million candidates have so far registered for the examination, and by 12 midnight of May 5, JAMB website for registration will be closed,’’ he said.

    Benjamin enjoined candidates who registered for the examination to get themselves ready and improve on their computer skills.

    NAN reports that 633 centres will be used nationwide for the main UTME starting on May 13

  • JAMB assures of smooth conduct of UTME

    JAMB assures of smooth conduct of UTME

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)  has assured of smooth conduct of the 2017 unified tertiary matriculation examination.
    The Deputy Director, Centre Inspection and Validation, Examination Malpractice, Quality Assurance Department, JAMB Headquarters, Munirat Lawal, gave the assurance during the conduct of the boards mock examination for candidates in Kaduna.
    Over 50 candidates wrote the mock exam at the Kaduna state university Information and Communication Technology centre and other computer based test centres in the state.
    The mock exam was conducted in 633 CBT centres across the country.
    She said all the technical issues relating to the conduct of the examination had been fully resolved by the agency.
    “We have fully resolved all the technical issues. That was why they are able to write the mock examination.
    “We have over 50 candidates sitting for this mock examination in this centre. Actually the centre was slatted for 250 candidates but maybe because it is mock. If it were to be real exam I know they will turn up more than what they did today.
    “We have about 50 and everything went on smoothly. We have two sections and in section we have 250. Assuming they turned up we would have had 500 candidates,” she said.
    A candidate who participated in the mock exam, Zainab Ibrahim, told reporters that she had no issue using the computer for the test.
    She commended the board for the smooth conduct of the mock exam.
    “it was very easy because the questions and arrangement are straightforward. I am just waiting for the real examination in May,” she said.
  • JAMB:  Candidates embark on peaceful protest in Calabar

    JAMB:  Candidates embark on peaceful protest in Calabar

    Over 500 prospective candidates of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination on Wednesday embarked on peaceful protest in Calabar following the poor internet service affecting their registration process for the examination.

    The candidates, who started the protest at 7a.m. from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) office on Marian Road, went round Barracks Road and the Millennium Park, before returning to the JAMB office.

    The candidates were chanting solidarity songs and held fresh leaves in their hands, while the Police and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) followed them to prevent break down of law and order.

    A candidate, Mr Jeremiah Osibu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that since the beginning of the registration on March 20, he had not been able to get his Personal Identity Number (PIN) for his registration.

    “The process of registration this year has been so difficult. I come to this JAMB office every working day; but till now, I have not been registered,’’ he said.

    Also, Miss Comfort Eban, told NAN that after paying the N6, 200 fee for the UTME, she had spent more than N8,000 on transportation from her house to JAMB office since March 20.

    “I am joining this protest today because we want our leaders and the examination body to do something about it. The 2017 process of registration is too stressful.

    “From the look of things, if this registration continues like this in the next few days, thousands of prospective candidates would not be able to sit for this examination,‘’ she said.

    Mr Richard Onah, who said he came all the way from Ogoja Local Government Area to register for the examination, called on JAMB to extend the registration to capture all prospective candidates.

    Efforts made by NAN to speak with JAMB officials in the state were not successful as protesters blocked the entrance to the JAMB office.

    NAN reports that petty traders were making brisk businesses through the sales of food, sachet water, biscuits and banana, as a result of the delay being experienced by prospective UTME candidates in JAMB office.

     

  • UTME Registration: JAMB introduces Remita to ease candidates’ pin purchase

    UTME Registration: JAMB introduces Remita to ease candidates’ pin purchase

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says that eligible candidates for its 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) can now purchase the pin for registration using the Remita mode.

    The board said on Sunday the development came on the heels of the reported challenges the candidates faced in an attempt to acquire the pins from NIPOST and the designated banks.

    The Head of Information of JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said the board had noted the many headaches of prospective candidates from various parts of the country, including Lagos.

    He said that candidates had lamented the difficulties involved in obtaining the pins from designated banks on the payment of N5,500 and the subsequent hassles in getting registered.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the registration of candidates for the examination started on March 20.

    NAN also reports that the candidates had described the process as cumbersome and frustrating as they have to queue as early as 2 or 3 a.m. in some cases in banks just to acquire pins.

    They had also said that often times, they spent the entire day waiting endlessly without results as the bank officials tell them that they could not access the site for the pins.

    They also said the development normally warranted them to spend almost an entire week trying and that even when they succeeded, they start facing the task of registration at overcrowded centres.

    According to Benjamin, candidates are advised not to panic as every eligible candidate desirous of registering will do so before the closing date of April 19.

    “We appreciate the fact that the sales of the UTME for 2017 which is hitherto set to last for six has been reduced to one month.

    “This was done in the interest of the candidates as it was to ensure that the challenges candidates are going through are resolved.

    “To further cushion the effect of these challenges, we have decided to bring the Remitta mode on board.

    “Candidates can now purchase the pin for registration from the comfort of their homes.

    “So, aside the banks and NIPOST, candidates can now purchase the pins through Remita,’’ Benjamin said in a statement.

    The statement explained why the board banned cyber cafes from registering candidates for the examination, noting that activities in the cafes damaged records and statistics of candidates.

    “In as much as we want to be inclusive, we cannot look the other way while students’ records and national statistics are mutilated.

    “Ours is an examination, so we cannot be guided by primordial consideration over quality and standard,’’ it said.

    According to the statement, most problems associated with candidates’ registration such as wrong spellings of names, wrongful placement of passport photograph and others emanates from the business centres at registration points.

    “Don’t forget, it is virtually impossible to regulate the activities of these business centres as their mode of operations did not provide necessary details about them.

    “These problems created by cafes make information gathering, processing and administration of examination cumbersome as records and data of candidates are distorted.

    “The accreditation centres are on the board’s website for easy identification cohesion and smooth operation,’’ it explained.

    He added that the board would continue to expand the frontiers and channels of the sales of the pins in virtually all the banks, with a view to bringing the services to the door step of every Nigerian child desirous of qualitative tertiary education.

    According to the statement, examination is a serious business and it cannot be left open the way some people want it to be.

    “We again urge Nigerians particularly anxious candidates not to fall prey to unsuspecting and dubious individuals who parade themselves as agents of JAMB with the intention to defraud them.

    “The board’s e-brochures and syllabus are on the CD to be given out to candidates and it is free and available as a guide to candidates to have a hitch-free registration exercise,’’ the statement said.

  • We are adopting e-PIN vending to prevent fraud – JAMB

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it introduced the new e-PIN vending registration for candidates to prevent fraud in its examination.

    JAMB Acting Zonal Coordinator in Nasarawa State, Moses Akobu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lafia that new e-PIN was not introduced to create hardship for candidates.

    He advised the candidates to remain calm as the board was doing its best to tackle hitches being experienced during the registration.

    “In the past, JAMB asked candidates to buy scratch cards from banks and do their registration in the cybercafé of their choice.

    “But the board discovered that in the process, candidates encountered problems such as mismatching of names and passports.

    “This mismatch often create problem on the day of the examination,’’ Akobu told NAN.

    He said some cybercafés often exploit candidates by charging them excessive fees outside the JAMB’s recommended N5,500.

    “For example, some cybercafés charge fees ranging between N7,000 and N8000, which is not supposed to be.

    “When the new JAMB registrar came on board, he identified these lapses and introduced the e-PIN vending in order to prevent fraud and solve the problem of mismatching.

    “The system is good because it is error free and the JAMB will have a direct contact with all prospective candidates through their valid email addresses,’’ he said.

    According to him, the desire of JAMB is to serve the candidates better and it is ready to do.

    “So the hitches they are experiencing now will be over in a matter of few days,’’ said the JAMB official.

    The zonal coordinator added that the major challenge of generating e-PIN for the candidates being faced by the banks was due to poor network.

    NAN reports that prospective candidates are in long queues waiting to get the e-PIN across designated banks in the state.

     

  • JAMB lauds role of media in nation building with caution notes

    Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commended the Nigerian media for their role in nation building and transformation of the society.

    Oloyede gave the commendation in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Dr Fabian Benjamin, on Sunday in Lagos.

    Oloyede said that the media remained a veritable tool in the board’s quest to execute its mandate of ensuring a brighter future for the Nigerian child.

    “The JAMB will like to commend the role of the Nigeria media, especially in its quest to sensitise the public on the innovations carried out in the sale of 2017 application document.

    “Of great interest is particularly on the recent publicity given by some media outfits over the `no admission for awaiting candidates’,’’ Oloyede said.

    JAMB, however, faulted some of the headlines in the publications, noting that curious readers would jump into conclusion by merely reading the headlines of the publications without reading the body of the stories.

    “Such headlines led to readers to think that JAMB had excluded candidates with awaiting results from taking the unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, which is not true.

    “Such hasty perusal and attitude is not only capable of misleading the public but could cause disaffection, anger, misconception of Federal Government guidelines on admissions.

    “It may also demoralise the Nigerian child intending to take JAMB examination.’’

    Oloyede said that the Ordinary Level (O/L) had always been a criterion in considering candidates for admission among other requirements.

    According to him, one of such requirements included suitability of the candidate’s performance in the screening exercise, carrying capacity of various institutions, catchment areas and subject combination among other entry qualifications.

    Oloyede said that the board was a responsible and responsive organisation and would not disfranchise any candidate intending to take the examination.

    “Rather than closing assess, we will expand it in as much as quality and equity is not compromised.

    “In view of that, the board stated that candidates with ‘awaiting results’ could take the examination, but would have to upload their results to the board’s portal before the commencement of admissions.

    “No candidate should take his or her result to any office but upload on our portal.’’

    The registrar urged candidates to upload their result on the website of JAMB to enable the board begin their admission process in record time.

    He added that the board would not accept any recommendation from any institution based on awaiting result status.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the board had announced that it would begin the sales of its registration documents for the 2017 UTME before the end of March.

     

  • 2017 UTME will be hitch-free – JAMB

    2017 UTME will be hitch-free – JAMB

    Mr Sunday Aladegbaye, Lagos State Coordinator of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has said that all the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) intending candidates will experience a hitch-free examination.

    Aladegbaye said this on the sidelines of the Parents’ Forum organized by the Management of the King’s College on Thursday in Lagos.

    According to him, there will be no compromise in the accreditation of centres to be used for this year’s UTME.

    He said that measures were being taken to avoid technical hitches.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some candidates that sat for the examination in 2016 complained of technical challenges in some of the centres.

    Such hitches ranged from malfunctioning of computers to poor power supply.

    This resulted to moving affected candidates to other functional centres.

    “We have taken time to go round designated centres in the states, in order to ascertain the level of functionality of their computers, the backups and other requirements.

    “Where we find missing gap, we dropped such centres immediately and those that meet requirements, we recommend them to management.

    “We will continue to insist on accreditation of well-equipped centres; no more, no less.

    “This is because, as a parent myself, I will not do anything that will compromise the future of my children,’’ Aladegbaye said.

    NAN learnt that the board would begin the sales of its registration documents for the UTME before the end of March.

    The coordinator warned candidates not to fall prey to some desperate persons, who had been defrauding innocent Nigerians in the guise of selling registration documents.

     

  • JAMB scraps use of awaiting results for admission

    JAMB scraps use of awaiting results for admission

    Candidates waiting for their O’level results will no longer be offered or recommended for admission by any institution effective from this year (2017), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said.

    The board also said it has concluded all restructuring and reforms and is now ready to begin sales of its application document in March.

    The organization in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja by its Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said the restructuring is to expand the opportunities available to candidates as almost all the public universities do not consider candidates on the second choice list because they hardly exhaust their first choice.

    JAMB said it took the decision because it found out that many institutions had offered candidates admission in the past on merit only for them to discover that such candidates do not have qualified O’level results for the admission and had to delete and start the process all over again.

    The organization said it would ensure that no candidate is recommended for admission without his/her O’levels result being supplied.

    To achieve this, JAMB said it would insist that candidates supply their result on its website during registration or later, but before admissions commences for them to be considered for admissions.

    This, the board said, would allow only qualified candidates to be considered for admissions.

    The statement said: “The summary is that no candidate will be admitted with awaiting result.

    In the cause of conducting admission exercise, many institutions have admitted candidates on merit only for them to discover that such candidates do not have qualified O’levels results or the right combination for admission and had to delete and start the process all over again. With this, they would have denied other qualified candidates the opportunities for admissions.

    “This we are addressing by ensuring that no candidate is henceforth recommended without his O’levels result being supplied. To achieve this, JAMB will insist that candidates supply their result on its website during registration or later, but before admissions commences for them to be considered for admissions. We believe this will allow only qualified candidates to be considered for admissions.

    “Because we need a different and progressive result that will position Nigerian educational system in an enviable height in the comity of nations, then we must do things differently. The Board is poised to see that a reasonable percentage of candidates who take this examination and are qualified find placement in tertiary institutions.

    “Candidates and their parents are also to note that the Board has restructured the registration platform to allow for only one choice of Public University. The new registration platform will now be first choice, second choice, third choice and fourth choice and not most preferred, preferred etc as it was.

    “Candidates’ first choice can be a College, University, Innovative Enterprises Institutions or Polytechnic/Monotechnic. However, if a candidate makes a Public University his first choice, he will not have any public University to choose for 2nd, 3rd and 4th choice. He will have on the remaining three choices, a College, a Polytechnic, Private University and IEI’S. However, candidates for the 2017 UTME can now select NCE (College) or ND (Polytechnic/Monotechnic) as their 1st choice up to 3rd choice and the 4th IEI. They can select the IEI (Innovative Enterprise Institution, ND) as their 1st choice up to the 4th choice, but can only pick a public university once.”

    The board said it had designed a Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) where it would interface with institutions and ensure they complied with the reform.

    “We sincerely appreciate the patience exhibited by Nigerians in allowing us take time to add value to the services we have been offering to Nigerians for over three decades.

    “We have designed a Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) where the Board will interface with the institutions and ensure the compliance of this reform.

    “The registration of UTME this year will go side by side with the  Direct Entry and during registration, candidates 10 fingers are to be captured using Biometric Verification Machine (BVN).

    “Again, we want to inform candidates that no cyber café will be registering candidates for our examination. On no account should any candidate patronize any cybercafé for our registration. It is important to note that the Board will not deploy the use of any scratch card for the 2017 UTME registration exercise,” the statement added.