As an estimated 1.6 million candidates get set to sit for its Computer-Based Test (CBT) during the upcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a strict warning to parents to steer clear of exam centres or face arrest.
This move, according to JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, is aimed at keeping the exam process fair. Issuing the directive during a virtual meeting with CBT centre operators, Prof. Oloyede stressed the importance of preventing parents from interfering in the UTME.
Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communications Advisor, explained that the decision was taken because it had been observed over time that some parents habitually interfered with the exam process. Benjamin emphasised that not only would parents be arrested for not following this rule, but their children would also be disqualified from the exam.
Prof. Oloyede further pointed out cases where intrusive parents had caused disruptions in JAMB exams. He said: “These parents haven’t let their children go through the right classes, so they want to be there during the exam to influence the officials.”
JAMB further pointed out that candidates taking the exam must be at least 17 years old.
As the 2024 UTME gets set to kick-off in over 700 centres across the country, JAMB underscored its commitment to ensuring an examination that is free from technical problems. Prof. Oloyede assured candidates about a smooth exam but warned about disruptions that could lead to disqualification would meet with sanctions.
The joint admission and matriculation board (JAMB) also asked CBT centre owners to put the interest of the country above their quest to turn profits and to report any bad behavior among their staff. JAMB further promised to deploy advanced tech to catch and stop any cheating, demonstrating the board’s resolve to ensure fairness in the examination process.
JAMB confirms that 1.6 million candidates registered to take the exam in over 700 centres across Nigeria last year (2023).
The numbers typically notch up by a few percentage points every succeeding year.
