JAMB Maintains Zero Tolerance For Malpractice, Impersonation – Registrar
The Registrar of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), Prof Ishaq Oloyede, says there is no compromise in its resolve to sanitise the system and make it free of corrupt practices.
He is therefore upbeat that the series of measures introduced by the organisation to curb impersonation and examination malpractices are already yielding positive results
Speaking at the 10th Annual lecture of the Forum of Heads of Federal Government Establishments In Nigeria, (Ekiti State chapter), Prof Oloyede explained that some of the digital based reform measures were tailored toward sustaining JAMB’s zero tolerance for impersonation, malpractices and all forms of illegality and irregularities.
He said the reform process covers inclusion of the National Identify Number (NIN) and live monitoring of examination registration as well as adoption of Central Processing System in admission placements by the Board.
The JAMB Registrar said the Board’s reform efforts started within its system through the introduction of special welfare packages and incentives for the workers, adding that such measures remained the best platform to make public servants shun corruption and other sharp practices in the course of performing their duties.
According to him, no worker would choose to remain indolent, disloyal and unproductive, if his working environment was appealing.
Maintaining that JAMB is already practicalising such arrangements where workers at its headquarters now enjoyed free meal, on daily basis, among several other mouth-watery incentives, Prof Oloyede however blamed various cases of fraudulent practices in schools, especially during external examinations, on too much emphasis on paper qualifications by authorities when engaging people for employment.
Represented by Mrs. Mabel Agbebaku, the Director, Quality Assurance at JAMB Headquarters, Oloyede said the innovations had not only shored up annual money generated by the Board, but also eased out bad eggs from the system.
“Any practice that aims at compromising the integrity of examinations pose a great danger to the collective hopes of the citizenry and the developmental aspirations of the nation.
“As the board is investing a large chunk of its resources in the fight against examination infractions, government and other stakeholders alike must also show increased commitment to this fight.
“This is because of the threats posed not only to the educational system, but also to national development.
“Some of the reasons for the widespread report of academic cheating might not be unconnected with the undue emphasis placed on paper qualifications and the desperation for professional courses such as Medicine, Law, Accountancy etc,” the JAMB Registrar said.
Similarly, he said JAMB’s constant efforts to deploy international best practices, Computer Based Testing, (CBT) was employed as the mode of examination delivery in the conduct of its exams in recent past, stressing that this innovation had helped to reduce malpractices and irregularities to the barest minimum.
Oloyede also accused some operators of private CBT Centres of complicity in encouraging malpractices during UTME Exams, warning them to desist henceforth or be ready to face the consequences.
For him, many of the CBT Centres are in the habit of collaborating with both parents and schools to earn underserving grades.
“Some of them even go as far as allowing the use of one person’s biometrics to register multiple candidates and also use different person’s photograph to register a candidate.”
Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, represented by the Head of Service, Mrs. Peju Babafemi, commended the forum for coming up with the idea of organising the annual lecture, and promised government’s continued support.
The governor described the topic of the lecture “Value Reorientation For Effective Service Delivery: JAMB Perspectives” as apt, saying “the continuing debate on the pervading moral decadence in the society has resonated, in no small measure, the concept of Value Reorientation in public domain.
“Therefore, the significance and aptness of your lecture, titled: Value Reorientation for Effective Service Delivery: JAMB Perspective” cannot be overemphasised
“JAMB has indeed demonstrated this ideals of value re-orientation, as evident in its various reformations as well as giant stride in terms of increased remittances to the coffees of the Federal Government”.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of Ekiti chapter of the Forum, Mr James Famurewa, explained that the annual lecture, was conceptualised as a veritable and strategic platform to educate and enhance the capacity federal civil servants in the state.
Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion, Mrs. Janet Olufunmilayo Adesubokan, remarked that members of the Forum in Ekiti had all been fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of the Federal Government at the State level, to the admiration of the host public.
“It is certain and evident that through this type of annual lecture, the body has been able to live to expectations, especially in the area of educating and creating the needed awareness on activities of the Federal Government”. – NAN
