The Nation Newspaper

Tag: utme

  • JAMB plans new registration process for 2018 UTME – Registrar

    JAMB plans new registration process for 2018 UTME – Registrar

    Professor.Is-haq Oloyede, Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB),  says the board may introduce a new mode of registration in 2018 to checkmate fraudsters.

    Oloyede, who made the remarks at a news conference on Thursday in Lagos, also said any Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidate, defrauded by con men, deserved no sympathy.

    The registrar said the board would continue to introduce measures to beat examination malpractice, adding that next year’s examination might have a new registration mode.

    “Among the malpractices discovered this year was a case of two different persons having fingerprints for a candidate.

    “In this case, it is the impersonator and the person being impersonated conniving with some other persons at the CBT centres.

    “However, as they are coming up with all these tricks, we are putting modalities on ground to be ahead of them.

    “I want to assure that next year’s examination might not use the current method we used in the examination process.

    “People are being criminally innovative, but that will not stop us from moving ahead and protecting the sanctity and integrity of our examination,’’ Oloyede said.

    According to him, those candidates, who might have been defrauded deserve no sympathy because they were looking for ways to circumvent the integrity of the UTME.

    “Even parents besiege examination centres, looking for means to `corner’ impersonators to hire in order to help their children pass the examination.

    “In this case, it is widely observed that family values have been eroded and it is indeed painful.’’ Oloyede said.

    The registrar said  some `mushroom’ computer based testing (CBT) centres had derailed from the set rules.

    “They do not deserve to be assisted as some of them, connive to defraud the innocent public as they do anything possible to make money.

    “They even create VIP rooms in their centres by extending JAMB cables into a private room, where they write the examination for candidates for a fee.

    Oloyede, however, exonerated some centres, saying they had perfected the vision of JAMB.

    He added that the board was encouraging such upcoming and prospective CBT centres to key into the board’s vision.

    Assessing the conduct of the examination so far, the registrar said the conduct of the examination could be adjudged “free and fair’’ in spite of few hitches in some centres.

    “So far, 1,648,429 candidates have written the  CBT mode examination,’’

    Oloyede said he was in Lagos for an on the spot assessment of some centres in the state.

    “I must say that some of these centres did not really meet our standards nor abide by our rules.

    “Some of these `mushroom’ centres broke the rules by conniving with some candidates to compromise the integrity of the examination.

    “It is indeed sad and painful that parents and even the candidates allow themselves to be defrauded and used by the owners of some of these centres.

    “However, so far, it has been good even though we have seen how clever and wise our people can be, having tried to deploy all kinds of shady means to cheat,’’ he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that 1.7 million candidates registered for the examination, which is expected to end on May 20. (NAN)

  • UTME centre cancelled in Benue

    UTME centre cancelled in Benue

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has cancelled one of its designated centres for the Unified Matriculation Tertiary Examination (UTME), Gboko College of Education, Benue State.

    The decision followed the centre’s faulty computers.

    When candidates resumed for the exam on Monday, most of the over 120 computers in the college were faulty.

    Candidates waited for hours while officials tried unsuccessfully to fix the computers.

    This created tension among the candidates and officials.

    The centre manager, Mr. Francis Ofoumah, said moving the candidates to other centres was in their best interest.

    Other centres in the three senatorial districts witnessed a hitch-free examination.

  • UTME: JAMB directs candidates to check results on its website

    UTME: JAMB directs candidates to check results on its website

    THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has advised candidates, who sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Saturday, to visit the board’s website or check their e-mails for their results.

    The organisation’s Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Fabian said the results of candidates, who wrote the UTME were released within 24 hours of the examination.

    “The results were released within 24 hours of the examination. Candidates are to check their e-mail addresses or visit the board’s website for their results,” he said.

    He said about 1,144,198 of the 1,718,425 candidates that registered for the UTME had written the examination.

    The UTME started on Saturday in 642 Computer Based Test centres across the country.

    “A total of 742,906 candidates took the examination on Saturday, 13th and Monday 15th May, 2017. Another 401,292 candidates are expected to join them today, raising the number to over 1,144,198 out of the 1,718,425 candidates slated for the examination this year.

    “The conduct of the examination has been adjudged to be excellent by all stakeholders, parent, students and the mass media. Particularly acknowledged is the prompt response of the Board to the very few technical issues that have been reported during the nationwide exercise. A rapid standby response technical team is on standby at the headquarters to receive and address complaints from the 642 centres across the country.

    “All these and other innovation put in place by the board has made the on-going examination seamless and coordinated.

    “The 2017 UTME is slated to end on Saturday May 20, 2017,” he said.

  • UTME: JAMB arrests cyber cafe operators for selling information to candidates for N10,000

    UTME: JAMB arrests cyber cafe operators for selling information to candidates for N10,000

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) yesterday said it had arrested operators of cyber  cafés for defrauding candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for N10,000 to access information on their e-mails.

    Its Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said this yesterday in a statement issued in Abuja.

    He said the operators  deliberately changed the e-mail addresses and passwords of candidates to ensure that messages sent to the candidates by JAMB get to them (operators of cyber cafes) and in turn sell such information.

    “We also appeal to candidates not to allow cheats to defraud them as we have arrested cyber cafe operators who changed candidates email addresses and passwords  and ensure that all messages send to candidates get to them and in turn sale such information like examination notification for N10,000.

    “It’s our humble expectation that a candidate aspiring to be a student in any tertiary institution should be able to operate an email. All information are send to their email addresses and also on our site for the public use,” he said.

    He said the organisation did not post candidates out of their preferred towns as was reported in the media.

    “Again we want to reiterate that we did not post any candidate outside his or her town of choice as expressed in their application, contrary to reports in some quarters. Candidates are always allowed to make a choice of examination town while we allocate centres within the examination town chosen by a candidate,” he said.

    Fabian hailed the organisation for the successful conduct of the UTME, which began on Saturday across 642 computer based centres (CBT).

    He said: “We are happy that the 2017 UTME, which kicked off on Saturday, May 13, has been hitch-free so far and in line with the arrangements put in place for candidates to write the examination without stress.

    “All negative speculation of shift, change of schedules etc over the ongoing 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examinations (UTME) are from mischief-makers, who are desperate to create confusion before or during the exams, owing to personal and selfish interests that are detrimental to the development of public examination and education.

    “We thank all Nigerians who supported this drive. We promise that we will continue to fine-tune the process for the better. From the reports across the federation, there has not been any major hitch on the ongoing UTME with over 1.7 million registered candidates captured for the examination.”

    He advised candidates to check JAMB’s website as well as its official twitter handle for information concerning the conduct of the examination.

  • UTME: Candidates, parents hail JAMB

    UTME: Candidates, parents hail JAMB

    •Minor hitches in Lagos centres

    The Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) yesterday cleared itself of the wedge of suspicion after the rather disappointing MOCK -UTME it conducted nearly two months ago.

    The body restored its credibility with candidates and parents hailing the conduct of the entrance examinations.

    Except for alterations in takeoff time and few cases of power outage (the exam was to start by 7am), many of the centres in Lagos our reporters visited were hitch- free.

    Candidates praised the examination body for a job well done.

    Each of the JAMB accredited centre has a functioning CCTV linked to other centres and wired to JAMB headquarters in Abuja.

    At the Florin High School Ejigbo centre, all candidates were seated before 8am but examination started by 9.30 due to little hitches.

    But as soon as the examination started, there were no distractions.

    Candidates expressed delight with the exercise.

    When our correspondent arrived Classic International School, Ejigbo around 9.20 am, many candidates were done with the examination.

    They were seated before 8.00am and started the examination at exactly 8.00am.

    “The venue is good. I like the conducive environment and the air conditioned hall. I also love the way the supervisors attended to us,” a candidate said.

    The zonal examiner of the Ejigbo, Idimu, Ijegun, Ikotun and Egbe, Dr Emmanuel Akinwale, said the era of examination malpractice was gradually coming to an end because candidates know they must read to pass.

    At Comnnexxion Centre in Iyana Ishahsi along Lagos Badagry expressway, candidates did not begin until around 9am though it went smoothly.

    A candidate, who identified herself as Seun, said there would be less of complaints if JAMB set this kind of precedence and follow through.

    A parent, Olayiwola Adigun, who saw his daughter Temilade to the centre, said what he witnessed has renewed his confidence in JAMB.

    “Initially, I was skeptical because I was also here during the mock exam and witnessed everything that happened.

    “I am happy that what happened today (yesterday) is in sharp contrast to that ugly incident.

    “If JAMB could continue like this in subsequent edition, I am sure Nigerians will have more confidence.”

    It was also observed examination racket was highly minimised. Some candidates, who had earlier paid to obtain answers from phone websites, were disappointed to discover most of the answers were spurious.

    A candidate who chose to remain anonymous posted his frustrations on the social media.

    He wrote: “All the answers sent by webmasters and runz people are fake. By the way I just heard from someone, people’s money do go be dat!”

    At the Digital Bridge Institute, Cappa, Oshodi all the candidates scored JAMB high.

    Amaka Ozoani said: “Kudos to JAMB. Everything went well. I did not experience any hitches from the computer.

    Daniel Osuji said: “I enjoyed the easiness of the exam. Though initially the system was not responding but it later came up and everything went fine.

    “The hall was air conditioned and it helped to keep our brains stable.”

    Another candidate said: “I score JAMB 70%. It still needs improvement in the area of timing. The exam started around 9 as against 7am.

    A parent, Anthony Daniels, said: “I came here with my son having in mind that it is going to be the usual issues associated with this exam but JAMB has proven me wrong.

    “I must say this is a right step in the right direction. If we keep seeing improvement in JAMB all the time, then we have no need to worry”.

    But as at about 10:30, the examination scheduled to begin at 7:30 am at Shoms Intl’ School, Bariga was yet to begin.

    Parents and some candidates who got to the centre for the second and third exam slots blamed the delay on the faulty generator expected to power the computers.

  • 367 inmates register as candidates begin UTME today

    367 inmates register as candidates begin UTME today

    367 inmates in Ikoyi and Kaduna prisons registered for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

    The Computer-Based Test (CBT) will run for a week in different centres around the country.

    The Registrar of the JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, while addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja debunked the news of the postponement of the examination.

    He said all candidates invited for the examination this year must comply with the examination schedule sent to them, condemning the news of the postponement as the handiwork of mischief makers.

    He said: “Over 120 inmates in Ikoyi and Kaduna prisons registered for this year’s CBT examination.

    “ The JAMB did not postpone the examination. It will take place as announced. All candidates invited for the examination will lose the chance to take it this year, if they fail to show up at the scheduled date and time. Students should ignore the mischief makers sending messages of a postponement.

    “Security agencies arrested a man who defrauded over 100 intending JAMB candidates. He registered them for the examination and collected N10,000 from each of them.”

  • Candidates confirm receiving UTME examination centres

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

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

    However, a few others said they were yet to get their centres.

    The JAMB registrar had promised that all candidates would receive their centres before Saturday.

    JAMB registered 1,736, 571 candidates for the 2017 UTME, which is holding in 624 centres nationwide.

    The board has advised candidates for the examination taking place on Saturday to check their e-mails for notification of their centres.

    JAMB’s Head, Media and Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, gave the advice in an interview with NAN yesterday.

    Benjamin said this advice was necessary because some candidates complained of lack of communication less than 72 hours to the exam.

  • Candidates confirm receiving UTME examination centres

    Candidates confirm receiving UTME examination centres

    •JAMB urges other applicants to check e-mails

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

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

    However, a few others said they were yet to get their centres.

    The JAMB registrar had promised that all candidates would receive their centres before Saturday.

    JAMB registered 1,736, 571 candidates for the 2017 UTME, which is holding in 624 centres nationwide.

    The board has advised candidates for the examination taking place on Saturday to check their e-mails for notification of their centres.

    JAMB’s Head, Media and Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, gave the advice in an interview with NAN yesterday.

    Benjamin said this advice was necessary because some candidates complained of lack of communication less than 72 hours to the exam.

  • NGO organises UTME mock exam

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

    Saheed told reporters at the venue of the examination, Lamp Bearer Nursery and Primary School, Asa-Dam Road, Ilorin that examination malpractice had taken a new dimension.

    He said 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.

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

    He said there was decline in the education sector when compared to what was 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.”

  • UTME: ‘ASUU not sincere with demands’

    UTME: ‘ASUU not sincere with demands’

    A group under the aegis of Nigerian Patriotic Advocates, has condemned the demand by Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for the resignation of the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede.

    According to the organisation, the conduct of ASUU was fast becoming a national embarrassment to the nation’s academia because it was not sincere.

    The NPA said while intellectuals in saner clines have been known for their sound judgment built on unbiased and selfish mind, the case had been different with ASUU which had written four petitions against Oloyede.

    Recently, a civil rights movement, the Joint Action Coalition of Civil Society Organization for Transparency in Governance, condemned ASUU’s demand, which, it said, was for selfish reasons.

    The Chairman of ASUU, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr Deji Omole, had claimed that the registration problems being experienced by candidates for the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination, were a major setback, which could jeopardise the ambition of candidates.

    While calling on the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to prevail on Oloyede not to make life difficult for children eager for higher education, he said the registration procedure introduced by JAMB as cumbersome.

    But the NPA in a statement by its National President, Prof. Emmanuel Goza and Public Relations Officer, Otunba Adeniyi Jones, said from its persistent attack on JAMB, it was obvious that ASUU had a mission to discredit Oloyede’s good intentions.

    The call for the resignation of Oloyede, NPA said, was strange especially coming from a group that had clearly shown that they have personal grudges to settle with him.

    The NPA said, “Although Nigerians have tremendous respect for ASUU, recent events from Ibadan branch are worrisome, moreso that the same group purporting to be representing ASUU has shortly after the Registrar was appointed, written over four petition against Oloyede, his son and the University of Ilorin. And in all cases, situations and circumstances, they were proven wrong. Now, they have found another past time in the registration process of JAMB to ventilate their personal vendetta.

    “This same group has virtually called for the resignation of everybody that has anything to do with education including the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan. The attitude of ASUU in UI is fast becoming a joke. Even in comedy, when you keep repeating a joke over and over, your audience will get bored. The attitude of the Ibadan branch of ASUU is fast becoming a national embarrassment to the academia.

    “Intellectuals anywhere in the world are known for sound judgment built on unbiased and selfish mind. However, the opposite is the case with our comrades in Ibadan.  The kind of press releases being churned out from Ibadan speaks to the contrary. Transformation is always a product that undergoes many stages of refinement and what is happening in JAMB should be seen as one. Great leaders take steps and directions that are mostly not familiar to all. But they end up producing glorious and profound results.”