2019 UTME: JAMB boss ‘weeps’ over exam malpractice


Registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has ‘shed tears’ over the desperate efforts by fraudsters to compromise the integrity of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). 
Oloyede while reading details of results of the recent UTME to newsmen over the weekend in Abuja, revealed the various methods employed by those he called “forgers” to include: multiple registration, manipulation of biometrics, deliberate disruption of examination process and impersonation.


He said the level of desperation by parents and guardians to beat the security system put in place by JAMB to forestall its examination integrity was regrettable.
“The capacity of the syndicate and their modus operandi were beyond our imagination. Some of the structures put in place were tested to their limits, assisted by propaganda and paid agents of multi-dimensional groups. Empty lies were fabricated and made to appear in solid forms in order to achieve some inglorious ends.


“The diversity of the mobilized officials for the UTME would have assured one of the remoteness of organised crime targeted against the examinations. However, the menace could still not be stamped out partly because of the fact that out of 702 CBT centres used across the country, only 16 are owned by JAMB while  223 are owned by public institutions. 


“The largest percentage of these centres is owned by private individuals who can be regarded as genuine  contributors, whilst a few has inimical vested interests which may be at variance with those of the Board or the nation.”


The JAMB boss said examination malpractice had become a global menace that has affected the United States and the Unites Kingdom, calling for, “the cooperation of all Nigerians to sanitise the system and ensure that not only do we do thing right, we also do right things.”
Owing to the prevalence of cases of extortion at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, Oloyede revealed that henceforth, there would be no cash transactions at the centres, adding that, “starting from next year, UTME candidates will make all payments associated with registration, purchase of e-pins, reading text and conduct of mock examinations at one point from which the reading text, normal CBT registration, service charges and mock(optional) shall be remitted to the respective states through the committee of CEE, Technical Advisor, JAMB state Coordinator and a representative of the CBT centre owners in the state shall superintend over the weekly disbursement on the basis of number of registration.”
He commended the Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu, and security agencies in the country for their resolve to deal with examination malpractice in the recent exercise.

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