Joint Admission and Matriculation Board has scaled up efforts to ensure that the ongoing 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME experience technical hitch-free.
The JAMB Technical Advisors who were seen assisting morning section candidates of 2023 UTME during biometric capturing, revealed that JAMB is doing everything to ensure that all the registered 2023 UTME candidates write exam successfully.
While noting that morning section candidates experienced some hurdles, the administrator Centre based Test, CBT, Centre Rosa Mystical Academy, Mr. Kolawole Emmanuel Femi affirmed that Computer Base Test was only a way forward to test candidates’ efficiency, prepare them for global competitiveness and to ending examination Malpractice in Nigeria.
“In fact, the examination conduct is going on well as you can see. Although there was a nationwide technical hitches but the JAMB technical officers were on top of the situation contacting and connecting every zone, South-South, South-West, South-East, North- East, North-east and north central to ensure that what seems national problem is resolved.
“The names of candidates who were unable to write their exams and those that could not successful submit their answers as a result of this, have written and JAMB will reschedule a date for them to sit for the examination,” he said.
Mr. Femi, however, lauded the effort of JAMB and the good conduct of 2023 UTME examination while saying there was need for more improvement in the use of Computer Based Test in Nigeria.
It would be recalled JAMB rescheduled date for some candidates that could not sit their earlier scheduled mock examination on account of some technical challenges occasioned by some new features being trailed by the Board.
It would be recalled that the mock examination was introduced by the Board to test the preparedness of its facilities as well as give candidates the opportunity to have hands-on experience of the Computer-Based
The board, however, said the gains from the exercise cannot be quantified as it has taken note of the challenges thrown up and had consequently been better placed to deliver a seamless UTME exercise in line with its projections.
“From the foregoing, it is clear that the Board would not shy away from taking much-needed steps aimed at transforming the conduct of public examinations in Nigeria.
“With the successful conduct of the mock examination, it became crystal clear that all the challenges encountered which had led to the rescheduled mock examination were necessary experiences that would serve to make the system even better as the Board has now consolidated the software and is ready to give Nigerians the best,” said JAMB.
Meanwhile, parents and candidates lamented over the timing of the UTME examination.
Speaking, Mr. Raphael Idikwu, a father of the one of the candidates, said JAMB did not consider the insecurity of the country while fixing the examination time by 6:30am.
“We have been here since 6:30 and until now 12noon my daughter has not gone in for her exam, this is the same thing JAMB did during Mock exam, honestly it is not fair. Some children left their homes to locate their centres despite the challenges of insecurity, JAMB should consider the posting and mobility of these children especially the ones that their parents are not mobile.
It was gathered that about 1.6 million candidates successfully for 2023 UTME nationwide.