2018 UTME: JAMB Bars Pens, Watches From Exam Halls
BY VICTOR BUORO, LAGOS – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has embargoed pens and wrist watches by candidates writing its 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Registrar of the Board, Professor Is’haq Oloyede said the ban is part of measures introduced to further ensure the integrity and conduct of the examination proper.
According to him, JAMB is also looking at some devices that will not only detect and expose candidates who cheat in examination halls, but also jam communication network at the various tests centres.
Prof Oloyede said the Board strongly believes in partnering with Computer Based Test (CBT) centre owners to check all anti-examination activities that are capable of compromising the tests.
Speaking on the side-line of sensitisation workshop for CBT centre owners to evaluate registration and conduct of the 2017 examination in Lagos on Wednesday, Prof Oloyede said, “We have taken some lessons from our experience.”
The JAMB chief said with the discovery that some electronic devices, including pens, and wristwatches were used to perpetrate examination malpractice last year, the use of wristwatches and pens by candidates and other persons in the examination hall has been banned.
He announced that sales of the registration document for the 2018 UTME would commence before the end of November, adding; “We are planning to meet with all stakeholders on November 15, 2017 and the sale of the registration document will definitely commence before the end of this month.
“But before that, we expect candidates to go and download our app, go to our website and download the syllabus and brochure, so that they can now study the process.
Explaining that the arrangement is meant to curtail errors that usually occur during the registration process, Oloyede said about 617 centres have been accredited nationwide for the exercise.
He disclosed that applications from about 60 more centres are currently awaiting consideration, adding that; “a total of 72 centres nationwide have earlier been delisted owing to their involvement in some infractions and they remain delisted.”
Oloyede, who also spoke on the Board’s proposal to build mega CBT centres for its annual tests, said the plan is still with the planning process involving the project design; contact with private operators; newspaper advertisements; and due process to be followed.
He stated that the JAMB will only engage the best CBT centres for next year’s examination, warning that centre owners will be culpable if they do not expose wrong doings within their domains.
He said; “It is on this premise that we are appealing that you assist us in identifying the bad eggs among you and ensuring that they do not participate in our activities.”
Stating that the Board intends to up its requirements for CBT centres towards 2018 UTME examination, Oloyede said; “We are not going to accept wireless CCTV cameras. Any examination conducted in any CBT centre that we cannot monitor from Abuja will not be paid for.
“The onus is on you to ensure that your CCTV are working and must be on and no CBT centre is allowed to sell any kind of materials under the guise of past questions.”
