UTME 2018: Candidates commend JAMB as some panic over use of computers

macfranc007 March 10, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Nurudeen Lawal

- The UTME 2018 candidates who had their examinations today, March 10, commend JAMB for its proper organisation

- However, some of the candidates panicked as they were not familiar with the use of computer

- Other candidates who are yet to write their exams are, therefore, advised to familarise themselves with computer before their turn

Some candidates, who sat for the first session of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), on Saturday, March 10, commended JAMB as few panicked due to their unfamiliarity with the use of computers.

Abayomi Otubela, the proprietor of Lagooz Schools Agege, Lagos, whose school serves as one of the UTME centres, announced this to the parents of the candidates at the waiting lodge in the centre.

UTME 2018: Candidates commend JAMB as some panic over use of computers

Students writing Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Mock Examination at Mater Dei High School Imiringi in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state. Credit: NAN

Otubela said some candidates had difficulties navigating through the computers, which made them to panic.

“Some of our children are fidgeting because they are not familiar with the use of computers.

“Some of them said they cannot even navigate to move to the next subject, so we had to put them through the process before the examination started,” he said.

He advised parents to inform those, who had not written the examination, to get familiar with the use of computers and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) software.

“For those of you, who have people that haven’t written, let them get familiar with the use of computer and JAMB software.

“That was why JAMB conducted the mock examination so that they can familiarise themselves with the software," he said.

He also advised parents to encourage their children to prepare well academically in order to gain admission into the schools of their choice.

Meanwhile, some candidates sitting for the ongoing UTME in some centres in Lagos, Benin and Abuja have commended the JAMB as CBT proceeds smoothly in most centres.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the examination commenced on Friday, March 9 across the country, with computer Based Test,(CBT).

A cross section of the candidates writing the test at Connection Computer Centre, Lagos, commended JAMB for its proper organisation.

Kehinde Adenuga said the organisation of the examination was convenient for applicants.

“The process of registration and allocation has been convenient, as everything is done online.

“The first batch started by 7am, and I will be in the next batch to write by 9am. I can only pray for the best,” he said.

Chime Lucky, another candidate, expressed hope for success in the test.

“I wrote JAMB in 2017 but I didn’t do too well, I hope and pray that I am able to secure admission this year,” she said.

Obinna Ume, a parent, who brought his ward to write the test, also commended the arrangement.

“There is no rowdiness and the candidates are expected to have basic knowledge of computer to write the test.

“This is commendable and it will go a long way to encourage computer literacy among students,” he said.

Akinyele Ariyo, supervisor for the examination centre assured that the test was foolproof against manipulation.

“The examinations we are conducting are well organised and protected against malpractices.

“The questions are computer based and cannot be leaked by anybody, and the centres are monitored with security cameras connected to a central server” he said.

Ariyo said that his centre accommodated 250 candidates for each batch, with three batches in a day.

Also, some 2018 UTME candidates in Benin on Saturday, March 10, tasked the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to be time cautious.

One of the candidates, Endurance Abang, said that the exams was schedule for 7am but could not start until 8am.

Abang said that some of the candidates travelled early to their various centres without food only to start waiting for JAMB officials.

He however, called on JAMB to make mock examinations compulsory for all the candidates that enrolled for the exam, adding that it would enable them to familiarise with computers and other back-ups equipment used at the exam centres.

Solomon Osarodion, another candidate, lauded JAMB for the smooth conduct of the examination. He, however, blamed JAMB for not commencing examination early enough as slated.

Osarodion said that JAMB should ensure proper monitoring of all the facilities used during the exams as he said that some of the computers are outdated.

A centre administrator, Daniel Egeonu, said that JAMB has a way of monitoring all its accredited centres before the commencement of each exam, adding that JAMB would not accredit any centre without meeting its requirements.

Egeonu, however, blamed late commencement of exams on the part of candidates not arriving centres early enough.

Also, Idowu Odufoye, an Inspector of Call (IC) from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) told NAN that they recorded a hitch-free screening at the centre.

“We carried out the screening in four different stages and there was no problem with the candidates.

“They complied, obeyed instructions and none of them were caught with any incriminating material," Mrs Odufoye said.

According to Moshood Momoh, a JAMB official, no issue was encountered during the examination and the candidates behaved very well and were orderly.

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NAN reports that out of 250 candidates registered for the first day at the centre, only one candidate was absent.

NAIJ.com previously reported that JAMB advised candidates for the 2018 UTME yet to receive their examinations details to visit its website for such information.

The board’s head of media, Fabian Benjamin, gave the advice in an interview with NAN on Friday, March 9, in Abuja, following complaints by candidates.

The examination commenced on Friday in JAMB approved computer based test centres with some 1.6 million candidates registered for test holding from March 9 to March 17.

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