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Tag: Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME)

  • No going back on UTME biometrics, says JAMB

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says it will not rescind its decision on the use of biometrics in the conduct of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    This is contained in the board’s weekly bulletin issued on Sunday in Lagos.

    According to the bulletin the importance of biometrics in the conduct of the board’s examination cannot be overemphasised.

    It noted that the Biometrics Verification Machine (BVM) was introduced by the board in an attempt to get rid of the numerous forms of examination malpractice.
    It said the BVM was a security mechanism used for the authentication of candidates’ identity as it provided access to the individual data, based on physiological characteristics.

    “The core value of a biometric verification process lies in its ability to provide extra layers of security and protection against counterfeiting and impersonation.

    “The increasing threat of identity fraud during the board’s UTME before the advent of the BVM necessitated its introduction for capturing biometrics of candidates to counter fraud.

    “The candidate’s 10 fingers are captured during registration and are used as clearance to admit them into the examination hall.

    “There are various types of biometric solutions but JAMB opted for finger print recognition, to eliminate all forms of infractions.

    “Biometric security is surely a breakthrough for the board, because the finger prints recognition technology provides a greater degree of security as it is impossible to steal, forget, loose or compromise data already captured.

    Read also: AIB begins probe on crashed NCAT aircraft

    “Therefore, the adoption of biometrics in the conduct of our examination is here to stay,” the bulletin noted.

    It reassured candidates that their finger prints would not be used for any purpose other than identification.

    According to the bulletin, the benefits of the BVM are immense and indispensible to the assessment process.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the board had prior to the commencement of the sales of its 2019 registration documents on Feb. 10, warned that it would not re-schedule any examination for candidates with biometric issues.

    It added that candidates with issues of biometrics must visit the board’s headquarters in Abuja to be captured.

    The bulletin noted that out of a total of 52 candidates with such challenges nationwide, only 22 showed up at the board’s headquarters for the process.

    Meanwhile the bulletin also noted that the slash in the UTME fee by the Federal Government had increased the number of candidates who want to sit for the examination.

    It said government had announced the reduction of the fees for the examination from N5, 000 to N3, 500.

    The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin had told NAN in an interview that over 1.8 million candidates had registered for the examination.

    “The board had in the past six weeks put its UTME and Direct Entry application documents from Feb. 10 to Feb. 21.

    “Many candidates been interviewed disclosed that they were encouraged to register when they discovered that they could afford the new fees,” the bulletin said. (NAN)

  • JAMB commences 2019 UTME registration Jan 10

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will open registration for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on January 10, 2019.

    The JAMB Registrar, Prof Is-haq Oloyede said at a stakeholders meeting with CBT Centre operators and others at the University of Lagos on Thursday the sale of e-PIN for the examination would last for six weeks.

    He however did not give the actual examination dates.

    Oloyede had initially announced January 3 as commencement date for the sale of forms but changed it to January 10, 2018 following appeals by CBT operators for more time to complete their online network test.

    He said the registration for the examination would be done only by 718 accredited CBT centres spread across the country.

    He warned them against sharp practices so they do not suffer the fate of 50 CBT centres struck off JAMB’s list last year.

    Oloyede said CBT centres should guard their JAMB-issued SIM cards, access codes and other confidential documents relating to the board carefully as the transfer of such items to the wrong hands could mean losing their accreditation.

    He also gave the list of approved charges for all the services they may render to candidates from registration to the point of admission.

    The former vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin explained JAMB recorded revenue increase because of judicious management of resources.

    He added adoption of technology would make the whole process of examination, assessment and dissemination of result even cheaper.

    Chairman Governing Council of JAMB, Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe, said the Council was in support of the reforms introduced by Oloyede.

    He expressed hope that JAMB would return to how it operated at the beginning where admission letters were sent to students at home without them needing to influence their admissions.

    “While I was at the USSR studying Medicine, my mother wrote me that I got an admission letter from JAMB to study Medicine at Nsukka.

    “It is my vision, it is my own desire, it is my dream to have JAMB return to what it was that time when nobody knew me, I did not know anybody but JAMB delivered my letter to my home in the village,” he said.

     

  • UTME: Dictation mode causing blind candidates’ performance to drop

    The dictation mode of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination ( UTME ) is causing the performance of blind candidates to drop, a school administrator, Mrs Chioma Ohakwe, has said.

    Ohakwe, Proprietress, Bethesda Home for the Blind, Mushin, Lagos, said on Sunday that the use of Braillenote Apex machines for administration of UTME to the blind was preferred.

    Ohakwe spoke to our correspondent in Lagos.

    “We have carefully looked at all the variables surrounding the administration of this examination through the dictation mode, and we discovered that they (blind candidates)  prefer the Braillenote Apex machine.

    “We also discovered that since the introduction of the dictation mode, the performance of the candidates have been dropping.

    “Those concerned need to reconsider the administration of UTME through the machine as it gives the candidates a freehand to listen carefully, comprehend questions and choose  answers.

    “With  the machine, it is expected that each candidate is self-reliant and writes what he or she knows,” Ohakwe said.

    She told us that, with the dictation mode, many blind candidates  complained after UTME that examiners were either too fast and would not repeat questions and options or they (blind candidates) could not understand clearly what was read.

    According to the proprietress, the performance of candidates from the school in the recently-concluded UTME  was not impressive as the highest score was  233.

    “A total of 25 candidates from this home wrote the 2018 UTME; all of them sailed through the borderline of 200.

    “The highest score posted by the candidates was 233 with the lowest  being 204.

    “This performance is below what was obtained in the 2017 diet of the same examination.

    “During the 2017 diet, the highest score among the 23 candidates that wrote the examination was 256 with the lowest score, 200.

    “I will say that though the mode for the administration of this examination for the years under review was the same, the performance for 2017 was better because questions were read  for two to three times for better comprehension by candidates,’’ she said.

    Ohakwe appealed to the organisers of the examinatio, JAMB, to revert to the use of Braillenote Apex machines for subsequent examinations.

    She said that when the machines were introduced in 2015, candidates were excited, and the use of the machines the level of their performance.

    Braillenote Apex machine enables the visually impaired to read and answer questions via voice or braille.

    No fewer than 340 visually impaired candidates sat for the last UTME simultaneously in five centres across six geopolitical zones of the country.

    Of the number, 127 from  South-West sat for the examination in the Lagos centre on March 19.

    NAN

  • JAMB releases 1.5m results

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday released the results of 1.5 million candidates who sat for the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The board, in a statement by the agency’s Spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja yesterday, said it decided to release the results after considering reports of its supervisors CCTV footages during the conduct of the examination.

    He said the results of 112,331 and those of visually candidates are yet to be released.

    Dr. Benjamin also said the board was screening the results of 111,981 candidates which have been withheld.

    The statement reads: “After viewing all CCTV footage during the conduct of the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and considering reports from our supervisors, monitors and other independent Nigerians who took interest in promoting the quality of public examination in Nigeria, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of (1,502,978) One Million, Five Hundred and Two thousand, Nine Hundred and Seventy-Eight candidates who sat for the 2018 UTME.

    “A total of (1,652,825) One Million, Six Hundred and Fifty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Five candidate had indicated interest in the examination by registering for the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    “One Hundred and Twelve Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-One (112,331) candidates results are yet to be released out of which (350) Three Hundred and Fifty are the results of the blind candidates which would be released soon and (111,981) One Hundred and Eleven Thousand, Nine Hundred and Eighty-One results withheld for further screening.

    “The figure above excludes foreign candidates whose examination would be conducted in April.”

    Read Also: 2018 UTME: Parents threaten to sue JAMB

  • OSUSTECH matriculates 1,200 students for 2018/2019 session

    Ondo State University of Science and Technology ( OSUSTECH ), Okitipupa, on Thursday matriculated 1,200 students for the 2018/2019 academic session.

    The students were admitted into the Faculties of Sciences and Technology, Engineering Technology and Agriculture and Wildlife.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Ogunduyile, advised the new students to shun cultism, hooliganism, unholy relationships, bad gangs, smoking, drinking and other vices that could jeopardise their future.

    Ogunduyile also urged the fresh OSUSTECH students to concentrate on their studies and be good ambassadors of their families and the nation in order to contribute their own quota to the development of the country.

    He said they should consider themselves lucky as less than half of the 1.5 million candidates that wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination ( UTME ) yearly got admitted.

    He thanked the state government and stakeholders who contributed toward the establishment of the Faculties of Engineering Technology and Agriculture and wildlife.

    He said the institution was poised to compete favourably with other institutions in the country and beyond.

    “I am glad that the institution which was operating with one Faculty of Sciences, now has two more faculties of Engineering Technology and Agriculture and Wildlife.

    “I commend the state government and other stakeholders for supporting the laudable project; this will indeed help the institution to compete favourably with its peers in the country and beyond,” he added.

    The matriculation was the 8th in the series and had the highest number of students as well as the second celebration by Ogunduyile ,one year after he assumed office.

    NAN

  • UTME: NSCDC arrests candidate who hid phone in pant

    Operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested one Miss Joy Apkabio and her accomplice, Andrew Etziuala, for alleged involvement in examination malpractice in the ongoing unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME).

    Miss Akpabio was caught using a phone which she carried into the hall in her private parts.

    The Commandant, NSCDC Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command, Mr. Patrick Akpan, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday in Company of Spokesperson of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.

    Mr. Akpan said the suspects were apprehended at Baptist Academy, Karu, a suburb in the outskirt of the Federal Capital Territory.

    The commandant, who revealed that Miss Akpabio concealed the mobile phone in her pant, said she was caught on CCTV cameras while using the phone to cheat.

    Master Etziuala on the other hand, was said to have supplied her answers to the questions through text messages.

    The answers, Dr. Benjamin said, dated back to 1990 JAMB questions and not that of 2018 questions.

    The board had banned the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices from examination centres.

    Mr. Akpan said: “We have in our custody today two suspects that were involved in examination malpractice in the ongoing JAMB UTME. Their level of involvement are as follows, a lady whose name is, went into the exam hall with a telephone handset and this is against the rules covering the JAMB examination.

    “She concealed the telephone set inside her panties and she went in un-detected and while the examination nation was going on, she brought it out.

    “With the use of modern technology; you know the examination centres have CCTV cameras that are sending live transmission of activities that are taking place in the examination hall, and the activities of our men and other JAMB officials who were deployed to the centres, we were able to detect what she was doing and she was immediately arrested.

    “Upon interrogation, we were also able to arrest her accomplice who is another young man by the name Andrew who introduced her into the business and was equally involved in sending text messages of supposedly answers to the examination she was doing.

    “They are in our custody now and we are going to carry out further investigations regarding their involvement and to know if there are other accomplice, he will equally be traced and arrested and thereafter, they will be prosecuted in a law court.

    Dr. Benjamin noted that their arrests would serve as a deterrent to other candidates.

    Benjamin, who said the board would continue to maintain the integrity of its examinations, added that its partnership with NSCDC would ensure that any candidate caught bridging its rules are arrested.

    He said: “Just as the commandant has said, we are doing this not because she has been arrested, we want this to serve as a deterrent to other candidates. This particular candidacy was spotted from our headquarters, web have made it clear that all our centres are covered by CCTV cameras.

    “We are also monitoring what is happening in all the centres from our headquarters. We got a report that something was happening in Baptist Academy, Karu, and we immediately dispatched a team who went there and go the candidate arrested.

    “We want to sound it very clear that there is no shortcut success. It is no longer business as usual because you will be spotted if you do anything in the examination hall.

    “This particular candidate went into the hall with her phone and text messages were sent to her, but we discover that the answers were for 1990 JAMB questions, they are not for 2018 questions at all. You can see the level of deception. Even if she wasn’t arrested, she would have failed.

    “We want Nigerians to know that the sanctity of this examination is very sacrosanct. We will not allow anybody to destroy what we are doing, we will continue to partner with NSCDC to ensure that whoever attempts to bridge the rule of the game is arrested.

    He added that over one million candidates had written the examination which commenced last Friday.

    Miss Akpabio, confessed that she hid the phone to beat the security checks and that she was caught in the examination hall when she brought it out for usage.

    She said: “I was caught with a phone in exam hall. Actually, I was about bringing out the phone to make use of it and they saw me.”

    When asked if she was aware that she was not supposed to go into the examination hall with a phone, she said yes. “It was just an accident.”

    Akpabio, who said she applied to study Business Administration, added that she had sat for JAMB for more than four times and had been unable to secure admission.

    “My last score was 179,” she said.

    She claimed that other candidates were using their phones when she was caught.

    Etziuala who was sending answers to her phone explained that the answers were generated by another member of the syndicate operating from a Business Centre in Jikwoyi.

    He said the suspect at large, allegedly hacked into JAMB examination questions and generated answers which were forwarded to him (Etziuala), who in turn forward them to Akpabio in the examination hall.

    Etziuala, who said he was a student of Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, said he regretted his action describing it as a big mistake.

    “I did not know it will lead to something like this. I am just bothered that this has tarnished my image and others should learn from it,” he said.

    Read Also: UTME 2018: JAMB vows to fight malpractice, cautions against fraudsters

  • 2018 UTME: Candidates applaud JAMB for hitch-free exercise

    As the conduct of the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination ( UTME ) enters the third day, candidates have applauded the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) for a hitch-free examination.

    The candidates spoke in separate interviews with our reporter in Abuja on Monday

    Miss Joy Ezinne, at the Skylimit, CBT Centre, Mararaba, said she was pleased with the exam as the examination was conducted under a smooth atmosphere.

    Ezinne said that the network was fast and did not experience incident of power failure throughout the examination.

    She added that operators at the centre were cooperative and attended to as many candidates that needed their attention.

    Also, Master Olugbenga Ibikunle, Central Business Area, Abuja, said the examination went well without any problem.

    Ibikunke, who compared the 2017 conduct with the 2018 examination said this year’s exercise was better off.

    “I sat for the examination last year, but if I am to compare, I think it us better conducted this year than last year.

    “There was no problem with internet facility in my centre, I enjoyed writing the exam now and hope JAMB will continue in this trend”.

    In a similar development, Master Izuchukwu Onuegbu at Kabal CBT Centre, Masaka, Nasarawa state, said there was no internet problem at the centre, and called on JAMB to sustain it.

    According to him, if all examination would be conducted in this manner, then you can be rest assured that many students would go home smiling and praising JAMB.

    Mr Emeka Wanaka, Coordinator, Global Distance Learning Institute, Abuja, also told us that the examination was smooth.

    He revealed that no hiccup was recorded since the commencement of the exercise.

    He said that the mock examination had provided leverage for the centre to be able to coordinate the examination.

    “Most of the issues encountered during the mock exam have been addressed and resolved.

    “There is a general network that enables JAMB to monitor the centre from their office.

    “JAMB has a very good response interaction and with this we are able to reduce to the barest minimum hitches in the examination”.

    He added that the centre only takes 200 candidates per session and 600 candidates a day, which was the reason for a coordinated exams.

    At the Digital Bridge Institute, our correspondent, who visited the centre reports that the exercise was conducted smoothly.

    There was tight security from the gate  and candidates were thoroughly searched to ensure they did not go in with any prohibited items.
    ‎
    Civil defence personnel were also on ground to ensure adequate security during the conduct of the examination.

    An official of the institute, who spoke with our reporter on condition of anonymity, said three sessions comprising of 250 candidates per session were writing the examination each day at the centre ‎.

    He said the first session started a few minutes past 7 a.m. and each session would last for two hours.

    Some candidates, who spoke with our reporter said the exercise was smooth and they did not have any problems.

    NAN

  • 1, 700 candidates to sit for UTME in Borno

    1, 700 candidates to sit for UTME in Borno

    No fewer than 1,700 candidates registered for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Borno, Mr Babagana Gutti, the Chief Examiner Officer, has said.

    Gutti told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the candidates would participate in the conduct of Computer Based Test (CBT) in eight designated centres in the state.

    He disclosed that each of the CBT centres was designed with a 250 capacity, adding that seven centres were set up in Maiduguri and one in Biu.

    Gutti listed some of the centres to include Kashim Ibrahim College of Education, National Open University (NOUN) and Nasara Computers.

    The JAMB official added that adequate arrangements and effective security measures had been put in place to facilitate smooth conduct of the examination, which commenced on Friday, March 9,

    According to him, the board had conducted a mock examination to test equipment and prepare the students for the final examination.

    “The mock examination was conducted successfully, reports from other centres in the country indicated promising outcome,” he said.

    Gutti added that the board also adopted proactive modalities and solved some of the problems associated with biometric data capture during registration process, to facilitate a hitch free exercise.

    Read Also: UTME 2018: Candidates call for transparency in admission process

  • UTME 2018: JAMB warns telecom firms against multiple charges

    UTME 2018: JAMB warns telecom firms against multiple charges

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has urged telecommunication companies to stop collecting multiple charges from candidates attempting to register for next year’s unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME) and direct entry (DE) examination.

    The board’s Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, made the appeal in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    He said the multiple charges is being carried out by telecommunication companies enlisted to provide profile code creation services through sending and receiving of SMS.

    According to him, telecom firms are supposed to charge candidates N50 per SMS, noting that candidates are being made to pay multiple charges due to poor network or processing failure.

    Dr. Benjamin advised the telecom service providers to stop the multiple charges and stick to the agreement reached with JAMB.

    According to him, candidates who are victims of these multiple charges are to raise a complaint support ticket on support.jamb.gov.ng for redress and further action by the board.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Joint admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been drawn to multiple SMS charges on candidates phone numbers attempting to register for the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) by telecommunications companies enlisted to provide Profile code creation services through sending and receiving of SMS.

    “The telecom companies are to charge only 50 Naira per SMS to use the service.  Candidates are made to repeat these SMS commands several times either due to poor network or processing failure leading to rapid response(s) after the command is sent. The Board therefore advises telecom service providers to stop the multiple charges and stick to the agreement reached with the Board.

    “The Board would insist on a refund by any Telecom that continue to charge these candidates twice.  We are mindful of the nation’s network challenges and does not expect the candidates to pay for the Telecoms infrastructural difficulties.”

    Meanwhile, JAMB has faulted claims by the Colleges of Education Academics Staff Union (COEASU) that it (board) placed universities over and above Colleges of Education in the choices for candidates seeking admissions into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

    COEASU, in a communique had claimed that the board placed more priority in terms of choice by making universities first (1st) choice and Colleges of Education third (3rd) choice which  is responsible for making colleges of education a dumping ground and less attractive as more brilliant candidates would have chosen universities first.

    “The Board wishes to correct this erroneous impression. Our advertisement typically, including this year, request candidates to make any institution as their first choice, Colleges of Education inclusive.

    “Our caption has always  been ” Order of choice of Institutions : Every candidate is to note that the 1st choice can be a College  of Education, University, Innovation Enterprise Institution…” This was made clear to COEASU during their visit with copies of our adverts provided to them.  It is strange to the Board for COEASU to issue such a misleading communique.

    “We have never placed any candidate(s) nor advice candidates on the choice of institution as it is the candidates’ volition to determine which institution to pick as their first choice and also which course to study. Candidates are at liberty to choose any institution they desire,” the statement said.

    JAMB said it was baffled that COEASU could issue such a misleading communique regarding the matter.

    The statement added that the 2018 application documents published in the national dailies “are clear, self-explanatory and devoid of any priority or preference as alleged by COEASU.”

  • UNILAG to admit only 8,000 – outgoing VC

    UNILAG to admit only 8,000 – outgoing VC

    No fewer than 24,000 applicants to the University of Lagos ( UNILAG ) who scored 200 marks and above will still be unable to secure admission in the institution in the 2017/2018 academic session.

    The outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rahamon Bello, gave the indication at a forum with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He said that although 32,000 applicants to the university scored 200 marks and above in this year’s Unified Tertiary matriculation examination ( UTME ), Unilag would not admit beyond 8,000.

    Bello said that the university insisted that an applicant must also score at least 40 per cent in Unilag’s post-UTME before consideration for admission.

    “We know what goes on in our public examinations. That is why we insist on candidates undertaking our post UTME and scoring at least 40 per cent,’’ he said.

    According to Bello, who steps down as Unilag’s Vice-Chancellor on Nov. 11, the aim is to promote excellence.

    “We admit the best so that we can produce the best,’’ he said.

    He said that the university held 75 inaugural lectures during his five-year tenure in an effort to promote scholarship.

    The professor of chemical engineering noted that the university had held a total of 374 inaugural lectures since its existence.

    Bello said that the university produced 103 professors in the past five years, representing about 20 per cent of the 292 professors it had produced in its 55 years of existence.

    “They just don’t come and get them; the process of becoming a professor in Unilag is very tedious.

    “We have peer review from inside and outside and we have interview internally, so that at the end, you know why you are promoted or why you are not,’’ he said.

    Bello said that Unilag had to change its curriculum in a bid to sustain academic excellence.

    “We are neither a technology university nor a business university; we are comprehensive, except for agriculture.

    “The only agriculture we do is marine.’’

    He expressed satisfaction at the performance of the university in its new fields of study such as cell biology and genetics.

    “When we started them, they were almost nothing.

    “Cell biology and genetics, for instance, are the ones that drive the health sector when you talk about working in the sub-cell region, especially in the area of In-Vitro-Fertilisation ( IVF ).

    He also expressed delight at the performance of the university’s creative arts department.

    “When we started it, some saw it as laughable. Today, most of our graduates are the ones making money in Nollywood,’’ Bello said.

    Bello, the 11th Vice-Chancellor of the university, came into office in 2012, following the death of the then Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adetokunbo Sofoluwe.

    Bello will be succeeded by Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the university’s Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics).

    NAN