Group Stresses Need for JAMB to Review its System

Funmi Ogundare
A body of civil organisations, Joint Action Coalition on Education (JACE) has called on the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), to carry out a holistic review of any lapses encountered during the 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which commenced last Saturday, with a view to remedying it before the end of the exam.

Some candidates who sat for the examination, had poured out their frustration over what they described as poor preparation by JAMB, as most centres visited, started late and had system breakdown, network failure, among other issues.

The South West Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Ayokunle Adumashin who briefed Journalists on the development, in Lagos, said the examination showed the imperative for continued investment in broadband penetration and stability in addition to improving on power supply situation in the country, adding that these would totally eliminate the few hitches recorded.

According to him, “the examination was orderly but the few incidents recorded, which were not significant, were largely issues pertaining to human factor and not caused by systems or process. JAMB should also work on the power problem faced by candidates to forestall any future challenges.”

He said the adoption of Computer Based Test (CBT) has reduced the incidence of malpractice, adding that the installation of close circuit Television (CCTV) at some of the examination centre further contributed to reducing the incidence off malpractice and also complemented security arrangement for the centres.

Adumashin stressed the need for secondary schools to improve on exposing their students to Information Communication Technology (ICT) so that the country can get to a stage where candidates do not experience cyberphobia or fear of computers or technology as such critical time in their life.

“Parents on their own part must on their own part spare no efforts to ensure that they familiarise their children with contemporary technology and trends before they complete secondary school as this will minimise the potentials for those struggling with technophobia at decisive points in their lives,”

He called on the board not to relent in innovating to further make the process pleasant for such candidates saying, “If JAMB start innovating on the CBT, in the nearest future, things can get better.”