JAMB candidates assigned to write the JAMB CBT-based examination in Flourish Computer Centre, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State have lamented over the inability of the centre to conduct the exams for the candidates.
Affected candidates thronged the gate of Flourish Computer Centre located on 101 Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard along Nung Oku junction, Uyo, appealing to the management of the centre to address the situation to no avail.
It was gathered that since Thursday when the exams commenced, no single candidate successfully completed the exams in the centre, and as at 8pm they were still waiting to write the exams.
The candidates who were lucky to be called in to write the exams said the computer logged them out 20 minutes after the exams commenced, adding that after the inability of the management to rectify the situation, the candidates were asked to leave the hall.
They explained that when the candidates became rowdy at 8pm, the management of the centre called in the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to disperse them.
One of the candidates, Moses Okokon with seat number 144 said he was at the venue of the exams by 6am on Thursday but the computer logged him and other candidates out after answering about 20 questions.
“They asked us to thumb print for the exams and as we started, the system logged us out. They asked us to log in again and the system had the same problem. They asked us to wait as the exams will be rescheduled. The second batch had the same problem so I don’t know if the exams will be rescheduled or cancelled,” he said.
Another candidate, Miss Emediong Eyo who was supposed to write the exams by 1pm said she arrived the venue of the exams by 12noon and noticed that the candidates in the first batch came out crying, saying that could not write their exams as they could only answer two or thee questions before the system logged them out.
“At 1.30pm, we were asked to thumb print and we waited outside till 7pm and nothing happened. We were about to leave when they said we should wait as they want to fix the computer. We waited till 8.30pm and we told to enter the computer room. My computer did not even open at all but those who sat near me logged into the computer but it was blank.”
“We could not write the exams and was later asked to leave the hall. We were angry and started protesting. Before long, SARS came in and threatened to shoot us if we do not leave the exams hall after writing the exams. We want JAMB to cancel this centre and give us another centre to write exams or reschedule it for us,” she added.
Some of the candidates outside Flourish computer centre where they were assigned to write their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examinations. Photo: Iniabasi Umo, Uyo