JAMB introduces new measures to detect cheating in exams nationwide

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has come up with a new method of detecting malpractice in the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

JAMB registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, said yesterday that measures had been taken to detect malpractices nationwide.

He revealed that the anti-cheating measures would also be used to spot examinations officials involved in unprofessional conduct, no matter how highly placed.

Prof. Oloyede was speaking at a meeting with owners of computer-based test facilities in Abuja.

According to him, the common fraud of multiple registrations by UTME candidates over the years had be detected and curtailed while measures were being adopted to prevent further cheating in exams.

He further explained that candidates that jot answers on papers, clothes or body would be easily caught and if the answers were similar to the questions, the board would carry out an official inquiry to determine the involvement of examination officers or otherwise with a view to prosecuting those found responsible.

He called on the proprietors of Computer-Based Test, CBT, centers to keep to instructions and make plans to ensure that internet facilities and services were intact during the examinations.

JAMB: Mock UTME to hold Saturday April 29

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has fixed Saturday 29th (this weekend), for the conduct of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mock examination in some selected centres across the country.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede made the announcement during a workshop to train its officials for the coming UTME examination in Abuja on Wednesday.

He said the mock examination would take place in 633 computer based test (CBT) centres across the country.

Prof. Oloyede said: “We have identified those technical hitches and quickly made necessary correction and tighten loose nuts. As a matter of fact, a trial mock was conducted last week in 10 states and the exercise was 99 percent successful

“All we are trying to do is to do things the best way that will not be wasteful, that will not make Nigeria inferior in the community of examination bodies. What we are trying to do is find the most efficient way of conducting our examination.

“I believe whatever can work in another place can work in Nigeria. For us, what we are trying to do is to give the best of our services to this great nation of ours. I need not be the registrar of JAMB if there will be no change positively.

“We believe that come next Saturday (this Saturday), we will do our best. What we have done now is that last Monday we conducted a preliminary mock in ten places across the country and it was 99 percent success.

“We conducted it in Sokoto, Abuja, Lagos, Ilorin, Nasarawa, Lokoja and we tested the technology again it was working but it worked because of the cooperation of all.

“I don’t expect full perfection from all the system. There would be saboteurs that might work against us and that was why we have plans A, B and C, in addition to several other backups in case any of our plan fails. At the end of the day, it would be said of me that I have done my best.”

The JAMB boss alleged that powerful forces was working hard to derail the smooth conduct of the examination nationwide, vowing that JAMB would not return to status quo.

“People are head bent on creating problems where none exist. I believe their toes are very big and I don’t mind stepping on them. Believe that at the end of the day Nigerians will know the truth and who to appreciate and who to condemn.

“So I expect all other stakeholders involved in the system not to sabotage the efforts of the board but reciprocate such gesture and goodwill so that we could give Nigerians the best of services they deserve,” he said.

JAMB Registrar gives update on UTME as agency arrests 25 for extortion

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), at the weekend announced the arrest of about 25 persons throughout the country for extortion and illegally selling registration materials to the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidates.

The culprits, according to the Registrar/Chief Executive of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, were apprehended by a combined team of its Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU); members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force, following a tip-off.

He said that the e-Brochure and e-Syllabus which were meant to be free were being sold by the culprits as high as N800 each nationwide, while at the same time also extorting money and inflating cost of registration from candidates.

Among the registration materials being sold by them include copies of the UTME e-Brochure and e-Syllabus.

Speaking with journalists in his office in Bwari, Abuja, shortly after the arrests, Oloyede said the people that were caught were those who were on illegal pilgrimage.

He said, “Our quality assurance unit, particularly the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit had to go out to see what is happening, following reports of extortion. We were having reports that candidates are paying more than the N5,500 that is required.

“The perpetrators have been cautioned and are presently under surveillance. For many of them that have been caught, I don’t think they will want to be caught for the second time in the future after serving the severe punishments awaiting them.

“We keep on telling people that they are to pay just N5,500, which is N5,000 to JAMB and N500 for the book (e-Brochure and e-Syllabus) and that is all. But for the centre where they register, the owner of the centres will get a maximum of N700.

“We have arrested about 25 persons, all over the country. They are those who are doing what they are not supposed to do, by charging the candidates higher than expected. They will not escape justice, they will appear in Court.

Oloyede said JAMB has not asked anybody to pay extra money or asked anybody to go to any business centre for the creation of profile.

He added that banks and Computer-Based Test centres have reached an agreement with JAMB, that they would create the profile for the candidates.

“And whether you go to the banks, NIPOST or anywhere to buy the pin, it is part of their responsibility to create the profile for the candidates. Nobody is expected to pay more than what we have specified. But what we have found out is that many people are gullible.

“What we have done is that the ACTU had gone out and raided the centres. We found out that many of the centres are playing on the ignorance of the candidates. We have advertised in 10 national Newspapers, yet they still allow themselves to be extorted”, he emphasised.

Oloyede also faulted claims by many of the candidates who have the impression that it would be better for them to register only in JAMB-owned centres.

He said, “It is not true, whether you register at the JAMB centres or in any accredited centres, there is no difference. But we have large number of people in CBT centres owned by JAMB. I think that is unnecessary. You can go to NIPOST, you can go to other accredited CBT centres.

“People are saying that there is poor connectivity, I don’t know what they mean by that. May be, they are using old terms. Many of the business centres who want us to return to the old practice or those who are producing the scratch cards and want to continue extorting money from people are the ones echoing this noise and creating unnecessary problem for the candidates.”

While assuring that every eligible candidate would be registered before the end of the one month exercise, the JAMB CEO, cautioned against panic registration, adding that “if anybody stresses himself or herself, it is because they want to do so.”

“In some cases, we rush to something that we do not need to rush for. There is also this argument that banks are having problems, if you have problems going to banks, why can’t you go to NIPOST? Why can’t you go to online for interswitch or remitter?

“We have sold our pin to all these people for the candidates to access all these online. We have shouted and made the noise. When people are not listening, what can we do?”, he stressed.

He commanded members of the NSCDC and the Nigeria Police whom he said “have been very wonderful”.

20,000 candidates register for 2017 JAMB UTME in 48 hours

The spokesperson of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Fabian Benjamin has said that a record 20,000 prospective candidates have registered for the 2017 Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination (UTME) registration which commenced on Monday.

He disclosed this in a chat with the media, in response to complaints made by some candidate who claimed they were finding it difficult to register in the centres accredited in Lagos state.

Benjamin said: “JAMB is expecting about two million candidates to register for this year’s UTME across the country within the allowed period of March 20 to April 19.

“About 20,000 have successfully registered in two days.

‘’I am not aware that UTME centres in Lagos are finding it difficult to register candidates.’’

Meanwhile, many accredited centres in Lagos who were yet to commence registration of candidates as at Tuesday attributed the difficulty to lack of JAMB code.

Out of the 600 accredited CBT centres in the country, Lagos has 39.

JAMB: 10 things candidates must know about 2017 UTME

This week, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), confirmed that they will begin the sale of forms for the 2017 Unified Matriculation Tertiary Examinations.

JAMB also announced some important information and dates to guide those who will be sitting for the exams.

Here are 10 things prospective candidates must know about this year’s examinations:

1. The forms will be on sale for only one month. It begins on March 20 and ends April 19.

2. JAMB application forms will be sold for N5,500. The registration package includes registration fees, reading text, syllabus and brochure.

3. The registration portal will be closed on Saturday, April 22, 2017.

4. For Direct Entry candidates, the application forms will be on sale from Sunday, April 23, 2017.

5. JAMB will be written between May 6 and May 20.

6. There will be no examination on May 12. This is to allow West African Examinations Council (WAEC) candidates sit for Further Mathematics.

7. Students awaiting results can write JAMB, but have their O’Levels ready at the point of admission.

8. Those who register for the JAMB mock examination will sit for it on April 8.

9. The CBT centres will be allowed to charge a token of N700 for the mock exams.

10. Over 600 public and private centres had been approved for the conduct of this year’s UTME across Nigeria.