The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination

  • UTME: JAMB withholds 76,923 results for malpractices

    UTME: JAMB withholds 76,923 results for malpractices

    ….Says rich parents paid N200, 000 to CBT owners to upgrade results

     

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said Wednesday that it has withheld 76, 923 results of candidates who wrote the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for various malpractices.

    The board also said some super rich parents paid as much as N200, 000 to owners of Computer Based Centres (CBT) to upgrade the results of their children.

    JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said this at a briefing with reporters on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said the board has so far released 1, 606,901 results, adding that the agency is yet to release 80, 889 results.

    Oloyede added that more results would be released once the board has finished clearing the candidates of any infractions.

    He assured candidates that all the 80,889 outstanding results would be released before the commencement of admission.

    Oloyede said: “So far we have released the results of 1,606,901 candidates after the examinations, leaving us with a balance of 80, 889. Out of this 80,000 we have deliberately withheld 76,923 for further investigation because of alleged malpractices in the centres where the examinations where held.

    “There is no need to panic if you belong to the 80,000. For us we want to thoroughly investigate what had happened.

    “We do not mean that this 80,889, all of them committed any infraction, no. We did not say so. In fact those who committed the infraction may be less than 10% of these people but when something happens in a centre pending investigation to know who was involved, who was not involved, the best thing is to withhold the results of certain number.

    “The results that have not been released will be released before the commencement of the admission exercise for those who are not guilty of any infraction. 76, 923 results are the ones we are investigating the centres.

    “Parents of these super VIP paid N200, 000 for each of the candidates to be able to score high marks. We are able to be ahead of them. Next year we are going to put electronic jammers in all the CBT centres. They better start to think of another way because we know that is what they do and we will also plan ahead of them.”

    The JAMB registrar also said 640 candidates who could not write the examination because of biometric issue would have to retake it under his supervision.

    “As at today, 640 candidates out of the 1.7 million across the country could not do biometric verification. We have investigated why and have found various reasons including the fact that some centres or fraudsters registered candidates taking the image of their thumbs rather than the actual thumbs.

    “In fairness, what we think that we should do is to assume that the students were not guilty. We have decided that the whole 640 students will be made to write their examination as we promised them and they will also be part of those who will write their examination.

    “Those people will however write the examination under my very own eyes because if you are well, you cannot be verified and you registered, we will still give them the opportunity,” he said.

    He urged candidates who have problems with data to visit any JAMB-owned CBT centres for correction.

    “Those who made mistake you will go and do the correction in JAMB CBT centres free of charge. We are not closing correction. Correction will continue. If you don’t have time now go next week or next month.

    “At JAMB offices, they have been told to do the correction free once you have paid through TSA. Even the printing for you should be free,” he added.

     

  • JAMB candidates get examination centres

    JAMB candidates get examination centres

    Candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have confirmed receiving their examination centres as promised by JAMB.

    Some candidates, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday, said that they have started getting their centres from Wednesday.

    However, a few others told NAN that they were yet to get their centres.

    NAN reports that the JAMB Registrar had promised that all candidates would receive their centres before Saturday.

    In a related development, Mr Ikeh Callistus, ICT, Lab Manager, Christ the King College, (CKC) Gwagwalada said the centre was ready for the UTME which would commence on Saturday, May 13, 2017.

    Callistus said the college had 278 computer systems but only 250 would be used for the examination per batch while 28 systems would be kept in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

    Similarly, at the Digital Bridge Centre and the Global Distance Learning Institute the stories were the same; the centres would also use 250 computer systems for the examination respectively.

    According to Mr Eugene Onyirimba, Manager Global Distance Learning Institute, 250 computers would be used while 25 would be reserved as backup.

    “As required by JAMB we would use 250 computers for the examination and we have 25 as backup at the centre.

    “We are prepared for the examination; we did well during the JAMB Mock examinations and I believe we will do much better during the UTME,’’ Onyirimba said.

    However, at the Best Intellect International School, Old Kutunku, Gwagwalada, FCT, the centre expressed fear that it might not be used for the UTME.

    Mr Micheal Edeh, ICT Technician of the centre, said that none of the UTME candidates has been posted to the centre.

    According to him, many candidates were registered at the centre during the registration.

    He also said that the centre participated in the JAMB Mock examination held on April 29.

    “ We are worried; all the candidates we have printed their centres were posted to other centres; we have not seen any one posted to this centre.

    “ JAMB promised to visit the centre but we are yet to see the officials; we don’t know if it has debarred us from participating in the UTME exams on Saturday,’’ Edeh said.

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has registered 1, 736, 571 candidates for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scheduled to hold in 624 centres nationwide.

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Examination (JAMB), has advised candidates for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), scheduled to commence on Saturday, to check their e-mails for notification of their examination centres.

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

    Benjamin said the advice became imperative because of agitations by some candidates over non-communication on their examination centres by the board to them, less than 72 hours to the commencement of the all Computer Based Test (CBT). (NAN)

  • NGO organises mock exam for 104 UTME applicants in Kwara

    Dr Yakub Saheed, Coordinator of the Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI), Kwara branch, said 104 applicants for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) benefited from a free mock examination organised by the NGO.

    Saheed, told newsmen on Tuesday at the venue of the examination, Lamp Bearer Nursery and Primary School, Asa-Dam road, Ilorin, that examination malpractice in the country had taken new dimension.

    The Educationist said that the target of the AEI was to prepare students for the UTME and to ensure that those who were not captured in the mock examination organised by JAMB were given another chance.

    He lamented that some school proprietors and principals were compromising morals, aiding malpractices, hence the need to bring back sanity into the system.

    According to him, there is decline in the education sector when compared to what is obtainable before.

    Saheed observed that there was poor knowledge of ICT among students, saying that knowledge of ICT, however, was integral to succeed in UTME.

    He noted that resources were pooled together by members of the group to finance the scheme, which is being replicated across the country.

    “Our entire programmes are tailored towards encouraging students’ excellence and moral uprightness.

    “This is just to contribute our own quota to the development of the education system in the country.

    “That is why we organise leadership training programme, youth lectures.

    “In the past, we’ve organised pre- Senior Secondary School Examination and many more in the country,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that students, who engaged in the mock exam had the opportunity to learn intricacies in the use of computer and how to answer examination questions.

     

  • 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.

     

  • 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.

     

  • JAMB registration is now for one month

    JAMB registration is now for one month

    …Don’t pay for MOCK examination – JAMB

     

    The Registrar Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, Prof Isaq Oloyede has said that registration for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME is no longer for three month but one month as he says that interested candidates should not pay for the Mock examination.

    He said that registration is now for one month because they want to eliminate all the ills associated with prolonged registration.

    According to Oloyede registration starts on the 20th of March and ends on 19th of April as he added that there will be an optional mock (Trial) examination for those who registered for it on the 8th of April.

    Speaking during an interactive session with stakeholders from the 36 states of the federation  including -transporters, state coordinators, banks, computer Based Test, CBT operators and telecommunication companies, he said the interaction was necessary so that everybody involved in the preparation will be adequately informed and material distribute all over the country.

    He said; “The examination proper starts on the 6th to 20th of May and we have put in place facilities to make the registration easy. For instance, as a student creates his profile on his cell phone, we will automatically send the e- syllabus and brochure to the student’s e-mail. So even before going to pay, he has all the materials that he will need for registrations.

    “And we are also telling the CBT centres not to extort students as we are asking students not to pay now for the newly introduced MOCK examination. You will pay for the MOCK examination at the CBT centres where you are posted. When you apply for MOCK examination we are not charging for anything because we want to use it as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR but the CBT owners will be allowed to charge N700 for the MOCK and it is at that point and to them that you will pay.”

    Advising students not to do cash transaction, he said they should use their ATM “and if you want to use cash, go to the bank so that you will not be extorted. Also, don’t give any of your pin to anyone because there are people out there that want to take advantage of your naivety. It is important to keep all your passwords so that you do not unduly expose them to those who want to extort you.”

    On admission for the blind, he said he cannot say that the blind will get automatic admission after they pass the examination but can appeal to the universities just the way they were appealed to the last time.

    “What we did this year was to appeal to them to admit all the qualified blind candidates and we were obliged; so all the blind candidates who were qualified have been granted admission by the universities.

    Next year we will still appeal to them to cooperate with us as they did the last time because that is the only thing we can do,” he said.

    He also explained that JAMB has approved more than 600 centres across the nation and across public and private centres but added that they do not accredit any association. “There is no association that we have accredited for CBT centre. Every individual CBT centre is treated as owner of CBT centre because somebody accredited this year may not be necessarily accredited next year,” he added.

     

  • 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.

     

  • JAMB candidates protest at Lagos Assembly

    JAMB candidates protest at Lagos Assembly

    Scores of candidates of the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), who stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly Tuesday to protest alleged maltreatment by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the examination, threw stones at the security gate and personnel manning the gate in the Assembly to ventilate their anger after waiting for hours without being attended to by the lawmakers.

    Some of the students, who were angered by the failure of the speaker or any lawmaker in the Assembly to attend to them in time were molested and arrested by members of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), who had been mobilised to prevent them from entering the Assembly premises.

    The students sang solidarity songs to register their anger with the authority of JAMB and the Assembly.

    The over 200 candidates, who wrote this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation  Examination called for the removal of  Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, Director of Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) over the alleged mismanagement of UTME examination during the protest to the Assembly.

    One of the affected candidates, Okelola Samson said that he read rigorously for the examination, but that JAMB gave him 170 marks which was against his expectation.

    According to him, for the past two weeks, JAMB has been sending results that was not in tandem with our expectations. We expected good result but we were disappointed at the management with the series of marks they were sending to our phones.

    “I am sure 170 was not my score and I am using this opportunity to call on the House of Assembly and the Federal Government to investigate this hiccup with JAMB,” he pleaded.

    It was gathered that other protesting candidates shouted at the frontage of the Assembly that Prof. Dibu must leave as the Director of JAMB.

    Another candidate, Adebisi Shonupe also shared his experience, and said that all the efforts put into the exam proved abortive with the action of JAMB.

    “Dibu is marking down candidates to pave way for private universities and also deduct the scores of the candidates at his own discretion. We also received some of our results before we write the exam,” the candidates said.

    According to them, JAMB changed exam venues without proper notification and over 10,000 candidates missed the UTME exam. He is also selling change of institution and change of course e-card, while the exam was still in progress.

    The inscription on the placards included: “My system went off and nothing was done. Kilode! You all have children.”

    The Director of Next Level Academy, Abayomi Arowolo, who was an instructor to the candidates, said what JAMB did was injustice.

    “After the candidates finished the examinations, JAMB added 40 marks to their scores and later removed it from the candidates’ scores. Some of the candidates are still writing the exam, so the Commission should be called to order.”

    The House of Assembly had not attended to the students as the time of filling this story.

  • NUT to governors: don’t divert bailout fund

    NUT to governors: don’t divert bailout fund

    [dropcap]T[/dropcap]eachers, under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), yesterday advised governors not to divert the bailout funds for workers but ensure that such funds are used to pay salary arrears.

    The NUT expressed concern about the continuous delay in the payment of teachers’ salary by many states despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention, aimed at helping cash-strapped states in paying arrears of salaries which they owe workers.

    Besides, the union urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts in the fight against the Boko Haram sect and further secure schools in the Northeast, the region most affected by insurgency.

    Secretary-General Obong Obong said in a statement issued in Abuja: “The Nigeria Union of Teachers has been following recent developments in the education sector in the country.

    “As an organisation saddled with the responsibility of protecting the rights and welfare of teachers as well as promoting and advancing the course of education and the teaching profession in Nigeria, the NUT particularly appraised the state of affairs in the primary and secondary education sub-sector with a view to highlighting our concerns for the attention of all tiers of government.

    “We commend the concerns so far showed by President Buhari and we believe Mr. President is committed to repositioning the education sector for the benefit of the citizenry and the development of the nation.

    “The NUT is concerned about continuous delay in the payment of teachers’ salary by a number of state governments despite the intervention of President Buhari with bailout funds provided to help them pay arrears of salaries to workers in the affected states.

    “While the non-payment of the backlog of salaries and other entitlements owed teachers has caused untold hardship and pain to the affected teachers and their dependents, it is even more disturbing to note that the bailout funds for some states are reported to have being seized by banks due to debts owed by the state governments.

    “This development to say the least, undermine the commendabel efforts made by President Buhari to address the precarious issue. The NUT therefore calls on the affected states to ensure that funds are not diverted but used for the payment of the salary arrears without further delay.

    “Also of concern to the NUT is the reported threat by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to withhold the results of candidates who wrote the May/June 2015 WASSCE in 19 states due to non-payment of registration fees of over N4 billion by the state governments.

    “It is important to state here that the policy of the states to take responsibility of the payment of the WASC Examination fees is commendable, as it was meant to lessen the financial burden on parents and guardians.

    “However, the failure of the debtor – states to fulfill their pledge to WAEC smacks of the characteristic lip service and political grandstanding of governments to public education, which is key to the transformation and future wellbeing of the Nigerian children.

    “Certainly, this unwholesome development portends danger to the future and educational prospects of the candidates and we demand that the issue be timely resolved by the affected states to ensure prompt release of the result to the candidates.

    “Government should not toy with the future of our children on the altar of politics. If they are not sincere and committed to paying the exam fees to their students, they should stop the grandstanding and allow parents to take the destiny of their children in their hands.

    “Furthermore, the NUT observed with dismay the recent protests by parents and candidates seeking admission into higher institutions over the alleged increase in the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) cut-off marks by some universities as against the decision of the 2015 combined policy meeting on admission that pegged the cut-off marks at 180 for universities and 150 for other tertiary institutions such as polytechnics and colleges of education.

    “The protest was also directed at the policy of JAMB assigning candidates of universities with surplus applicants for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to other Universities with lower number of applicants than their capacities attracted the anger of the protesters.

    “Although, the policy of JAMB is well intended to reduce waste and to provide the candidates space in institutions other than their first choice, it is our view that the policy failed to take into account the right of the candidate to choose his/her institution of learning.

    “It is therefore our submission that in order to draw a nexus between the laudable objective of JAMB and the desire of the candidates to choose their institutions, JAMB should reconsider the position of a second choice University for all candidates.

    “We wish to use this opportunity to once again draw the attention of the Federal Government to the need for the retirement age of primary and secondary school teachers to be raised from 60-65 years as in the case of Judges and Tertiary school Teachers.

    “This has become imperative considering the alarming rate of teachers’ retirement without a corresponding recruitment which has resulted to acute lack of teachers experienced by states across the country.

    “A case in point is the reported policy of Katsina State government to re-engage retired teachers to fill existing vacancies in the primary and secondary education sub-sector in the state.

    “While this stop-gap approach employed by Katsina State is commendable as it would provide temporary solution to the problem in the short-run, it cannot be seen to be a preferred and enduring solution to the deplorable issue of teachers is less cost effective as it involves payment of both monthly pension and the salary for the contract appointment.

    “Government should therefore consider as a matter of necessity the raising of teachers retirement age from 60 to 65 years in order to further benefit from the experience of the teachers as well as to address the man power needs in the school system.

    “The NUT will not fail to reiterate its call on the Federal Government to intensify its efforts in the fight against insurgency, particularly in the Northeast of the country.

    “We urge the administration of President Buhari to do more in securing our institutions of learning to ensure safe environment for effective education delivery in the country.”

  • Pains, gains of Post-UTME

    Pains, gains of Post-UTME

    The Federal University of Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has conducted its third post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). No fewer than 40,000 candidates took the exam. OLATUNJI AWE (300-Level Political Science, Ekiti State University) and FRANCIS OLOWOLAFE (200-Level Theatre and Media Arts, FUOYE) report.

    The quiet town of Oye-Ekiti in Ekiti State came alive recently. No fewer than 40,000 candidates swarmed the town to write the entrance examination of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), one of the seven universities established by the government two years ago.

    The post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) was the third the university would be conducting since its establishment. The exam, which was held for eight days, was a Computer-Based Test (CBT) for all applicants, who scored not less than 180 in UTME. The institution’s management showed its magnanimity by extending invitation to applicants, who did not choose the school as their first or second choice.

    The university, which has campuses in Oye and Ikole-Ekiti, chose Oye as the centre for the exercise held in its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centre. The centre hosts over 700 computers. The examination was held in batches.

    The exercise took many applicants by surprise. Many candidates complained that they did not see the timetable to know when to write the test. Others said the test did not go according to the timetable released by the school.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that candidates who had issues with the timetable were those who filled in for English and Literary Studies.

    Adeola Adeleke, a candidate, said: “I never knew they were going to start the examination as it was stated on the timetable. But, thank God I was not late for the test.”

    The candidates, before going into the examination centre, had their documents checked to prevent impersonation and to bar candidates that scored below 180 from participating in the exercise.

    Policemen and officers of the Civil Defence Corps were on ground to ensure security and maintain law and order.

    The exercise was not without hiccups as some candidates complained of their inability to upload their thumb print during the registration, a development that made many to go to the school days before the exercise.

    Adenike Olanrewaju said: “I had to travel to this place from Lagos because of this problem. This gave me the opportunity to participate in the CBT training class. I was able to rectify it before the test.”

    The post-UTME also boosted business activities in Oye. Residents made good sales, servicing the applicants in various ways. A food vendor, who identified herself as Iya Ibeji, said she has the greatest sale period whenever the university held its post-UTME because of the large number of people who patronise her cafeteria.

    On the number of applicants, Omobola Omoboriowo, 200-Level Theatr Arts, said: “This is good news for the university. If 10 per cent of them can be admitted, it will increase the number of students on campus and Oye Town will be livelier.”

    Another student, who did not say his name, said: “Even if not many of the candidates are admitted, the fact remains that facilities in the school are not enough. This is the area the management needs to look into.”

    Mariam Olowoporoku, a candidate, said: “After I saw the facilities on the campus, I don’t think I want to come here anymore, because the school lacks enough lecture rooms. I used the test to practise so that I can perform when I go to write post-UTME in institutions I chose as first and second choice.”

    The chief examiner and the Dean of Social Science, Prof Rasaki Ojo, said the exercise was successful. “We were able to manage the crowd of applicants that came for the test. We also took a step further by making sure we solved cases of candidates that had problem with online registration. This made it easy for many of them,” he said.

    On the hiccups experienced by applicants, the Dean said no invention was totally reliable, saying: “We have one or two hitches with the computers, which we hope to work on next time. But on the whole, I would score my team excellence considering the serenity and excellent nature the examination was conducted.”

    A staff, who worked with the security department, said: “It was not easy to organise such exercise but it came out to be successful.”