Improving JAMB’s conduct of UTME

The just concluded 2019/2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which had over 1.8 million registered candidates conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) was not hitch-free as some candidates complained of inability to be verified by the thumbprint scanner during the biometrics verification exercise. Since the only condition for allowing candidates into the exam centres is by the biometric verification process, those whose thumbprints could not be confirmed by the computer were not allowed in the exam hall, while others were delayed but later allowed in after several attempts. Other irregularities that marred the UTME were poor functionalities of network servers of some Computer Based Test (CBT) centres and late kickoff of the exam. It was in fact worse at some CBT centres where candidates experienced abrupt network problems midway into their exam only for the network to be restored few minutes to the end of the exam. These candidates couldn’t complete their exams within the given time as the time was running while network went off and they watched helplessly.

One would have expected JAMB to do better than it did given the ample space of time it had to prepare after the initial exam postponement occasioned by the general elections. With the exam board’s experience over the years in conducting CBT exams after phasing out the paper and pencil test, one would expect smooth conduct but it wasn’t so. Few weeks before the commencement of the examination JAMB declared full readiness for the conduct, yet there were many complaints of hitches at some CBT centres. It will be recalled that some accredited CBT centres were de-registered early this month by JAMB on grounds of infractions like technical hitch, deceit and fraud. All these measures taken by JAMB were apparently not enough as some CBT centres still had many challenges, particularly thumbprint scanner rejection of candidates, network issues and abrupt system shutdown.

It was also observed that the poor computer skills of some candidates may have affected their use of computers assigned to them. JAMB is exonerated from this as it is not the board’s statutory responsibility to teach candidates how to operate and handle computers.  This challenge can be tackled head-on from the grassroots – compulsory teaching of computer studies in all primary and secondary schools!

JAMB has also created some form of worry and concern by the delay in releasing the results even days after the completion of the whole exam as against the previous years when results were released within 72 hours of taking the exam.

For smooth conduct of subsequent examinations, I urge JAMB to be more proactive and ensure that contingency plans are always put in place to immediately address any form of challenge that may arise in the course of the exam. The examination board should carry out a thorough evaluation and reassessment of the conduct of this year’s examination and look into areas where there were hiccups. Genuine and substantiated complaints from all quarters should be well examined by JAMB for improvement in the years ahead.

The examination body is also advised to post candidates to centres close to them. The late kick-off must also be addressed in subsequent examinations by the board. If these complaints are thoroughly perused and worked upon, a repeat of all the irregularities that marred this year’s UTME will be averted.

Kayode Ojewale wrote from Idimu, Lagos State.