The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) last Saturday postponed indefinitely its inaugural Mock Unified/Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), incurring applicants’ ire, and raising doubts about its preparedness for the main Computer Based Test (CBT) next month, ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA, MEDINAT KANABE and JANE CHIJIOKE, who monitored the exercise at some JAMB accredited centres in Lagos, capture the drama and candidates’ frustration.
Days before the test, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had promised that nothing would go wrong. It also warned that it would not extend the duration for applying for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) online. The mock examination slated for last Saturday, it added, would hold as scheduled. Applicants were agitated as they hurried to beat the April 8 deadline for the test.
Last Saturday, many arrived at their centres as early as 5:30am for the test that was expected to start at as early as 7.30am. But when JAMB postponed the test until further notice due to some “unforeseen circumstances” they lost their enthusiasm. Is the postponement the sign of things to come? Some asked.
The postponement appeared to be the second blow JAMB was dealing candidates. The first was the epileptic network that left many candidates stranded at registration centres as they were unable to generate their Personal Identification Number (PIN).
Over the last two weeks, stakeholders have been calling on JAMB to extend the April 30 deadline for the examination’s “rigorous registration process”. Unimpressed with what happened last Saturday, stakeholders rebuked JAMB for what they describe as its “shoddy preparations”.
Our reporters, who went round last Saturday witnessed a lot of drama. Anxious candidates and managers of Computer Based Test (CBT) centres exchanged words.
“I arrived at 15 minutes past 6am, hoping that I would have done the examination and gone back to my place of business by 9am, but here I am,” a candidate told our reporter at the EKO College Management Technology, one of the centres in Ikotun, Lagos.
The Nation reporter, who arrived at the venue early, saw the centre’s officials pacing back and forth, obviously confused. Shortly after, one of them, who introduced himself as the centre’s facilitator, urged candidates to log on JAMB’s website to print a slip that would enable them access the examination hall.
The candidates protested that they already had the slip. By then, the second batch of candidates had arrived. Yet, the officials who seems unprepared were still carrying chairs into the hall. This was around 10am.
Candidates were, however, happy with the repeated assurance by different officials that the examination would begin soonest.
“How come he is just telling us to go and print this slip by 9.30am when the second batch of candidates should have started? It is good that the examination will finally begin,” another candidate said.
The Nation then approached one of the officials, who said the problem was actually from JAMB, adding that he had no idea when the examination would start.
“The problem is the network. We have been trying it since, but we could not get it. I don’t even know when they will write the examination today. This is the problem we have in Nigeria; nothing is done well. I am disappointed. If the server comes up later they will write the examination.
He continued: “It is not our fault. We have been waiting for the JAMB official attached to this centre since morning and we cannot start the examination without him or her. ”
The candidates, who were also unsure of the cause of the delay, began to show their anger. While some repeatedly cursed, others simply shrugged and vowed not to use the centre for their UTME.
“JAMB should hear this so that they don’t bring innocent children here to write examination. A message should be sent out to them,” said an angry candidate.
Another candidate, who simply identified herself as Esther, an asthmatic patient, said she got to the centre by 7am, but by midday she had become uncomfortable with the dust raised by scrambling candidates.
“I am feeling really weak now,” Esther said, adding:
“My condition is very severe. I do not usually get the opportunity to fight before I pass out so, I think I will be leaving this place.”
Esther recalled how she forfeited her admission in Edo State University on health ground. “That is why I chose UNILAG (University of Lagos) this year, but with the stress that JAMB is putting me through, I don’t know if I can make it anymore. I am tired of waiting I hope it will not be like this on the day of examination,” she added.
The scenario was not different at the Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), in Cappa, Lagos. “The network is just so bad!” One of the candidates said. “The JAMB site is not opening to print out photo card. It (system) keeps saying ‘reprint’. Many of us here are faced with this challenge. At the end of it all, we did not write the examination.
“This is annoying. I came all the way from Satellite Town and have been here since 6am. If JAMB is not prepared for the mock why put us in such pains?”
When will Nigeria get it right?” another candidate interjected.
“Since the introduction of CBT we are still faced with network failure, malfunctioning of computers and all that. Is this a sign that JAMB exam will experience hitches at the detriment of the students?” I wrote last year and encountered system failures and now I am about to write another one. I just pray the systems work perfectly well this time because I need to be in school,” the candidate added.
Another candidate Chizoba Daniels, said: “This is unfair,” adding:
“Since I started JAMB registration, it has been stressful, coupled with this mock exam. I got the text from JAMB late last night (Friday). I had to run to a cafe to print out the photo card, but I couldn’t until this afternoon (Saturday). I didn’t even take breakfast. Now all that effort is a waste.”
Feranmi Oloruntoba though upset by her experience, was fair in assessing the examination body.
“The introduction of mock exam is a good idea, but JAMB must carry everybody along. There are many who are yet to register for the UTME and also love to partake in the mock exam. So, I suggest the mock examination should be done after the expiration of the registration so that every interested candidate can partake,” she said.
A parent, Mr Cornelius Okomi, who saw his daughter off to the centre, blamed JAMB for using “innocent children” as mere scapegoats.
“All I can see is that JAMB wants to test run their systems; but the children are the one suffering it. It is a big mess. How do you keep children, who have not even taken breakfast here because you just want to test run your systems? I hope all these are addressed before the main exam commences. Some of us here had plans for today, but had to cancel them to support our children,” Okomi said.
Another parent, Mr Dicken Banjo advocated manual exam in rural areas.
He said: “Imagine some people in rural areas where there is no power, or Internet; yet you are making CBT mandatory. This has incurred more cost on them because they have to travel all the way to the city to register or get Internet service. Now imagine what they might have gone through just to partake in this mock and look at how it all ended.
“Nigeria has not gotten enough equipment to make CBT mandatory. We have not gotten there yet. A lot needs to be put in place. If in the urban areas we are still complaining of no network, what then becomes of the villages?”
At the Connexion centre in Iyana Ishashi on the Lagos-Badagry expressway the story was the same.
Two candidates Demola Olasunkanmi and David Osime, suggested that JAMB should return to the pencil and papers examination, hinging their argument on the undeveloped Information communication technology (ICT) in Nigeria.
Said Osime: “I still suggest we continue the use of pen and paper until we get it right. You take your time to prepare for an examination only for computers to start misbehaving. It’s now obvious some of the computers will end up marking rubbish and that is what JAMB will present to you as your score.
“We, Nigerians are good in ideas, but we cannot back it up efficiently and effectively to realise the goal.”
“The mock procedure is just too hectic,”Olasunkanmi noted:
He continued: “You have to wait for JAMB to send you a text, then you print it out before you can write the exam. It is not convenient at all because of network failure that will delay the process.”
Mr Steven Johnson, who came to the centre with his ward, scored JAMB low. “This is just an indication that CBT cannot work in Nigeria. Just ordinary mock exam, and JAMB made its incompetence embarrassingly obvious to the world. What tangible reason can they give for this? Even if they feel they want to test their computer, is there no other way to do that than this?
“JAMB should be reminded that our eyes are on them to see how this year’s exam will eventually turn out. We are tired of seeing our children come back home bitter due to system failures, delays and other inadequacies,” Johnson said.
The mock examination, which is optional, was meant to familiarise prospective candidates on the modalities of the exam via the CBT.
Postponing the test, JAMB, in a statement, at the weekend, said the tests running has opened its eye to lapses in the forthcoming examination. JAMB also announced the extension of the registration to May 5, while the UTME will begin on May 13 and end on May 20.
“The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board wishes to apologise to candidates and other stakeholders. We could not go on with the Mock Examination and hereby announce extension of registration exercise of the 2017 UTME. Instead of the earlier announced April 19, the deadline for the sale of forms and registration will now extend to Friday, May 5, 2017. Consequently, the 2017 UTME has also been postponed to start on Saturday, May 13 – 20, 2017. “Meanwhile, the Mock Examination earlier slated for Saturday, April 8, 2017 has been put on hold. This is because the appropriate rehearsal and test-running of the new system has been substantially achieved,” JAMB said.
