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Tag: JAMB

  • No going back on UTME biometrics – says JAMB

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says it will not rescind its decision on the use of biometrics in the conduct of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    This is contained in the board’s weekly bulletin issued on Sunday in Lagos.

    According to the bulletin the importance of biometrics in the conduct of the board’s examination cannot be overemphasised.

    It noted that the Biometrics Verification Machine (BVM) was introduced by the board in an attempt to get rid of the numerous forms of examination malpractice.

    It said the BVM was a security mechanism used for the authentication of candidates’ identity as it provided access to the individual data, based on physiological characteristics.

    “The core value of a biometric verification process lies in its ability to provide extra layers of security and protection against counterfeiting and impersonation.

    “The increasing threat of identity fraud during the board’s UTME before the advent of the BVM necessitated its introduction for capturing biometrics of candidates to counter fraud.

    “The candidate’s 10 fingers are captured during registration and are used as clearance to admit them into the examination hall.

    “There are various types of biometric solutions but JAMB opted for finger print recognition, to eliminate all forms of infractions.

    “Biometric security is surely a breakthrough for the board, because the finger prints recognition technology provides a greater degree of security as it is impossible to steal, forget, loose or compromise data already captured.

    “Therefore, the adoption of biometrics in the conduct of our examination is here to stay,” the bulletin noted.

    It reassured candidates that their finger prints would not be used for any purpose other than identification.

    According to the bulletin, the benefits of the BVM are immense and indispensible to the assessment process.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the board had prior to the commencement of the sales of its 2019 registration documents on Feb. 10, warned that it would not re-schedule any examination for candidates with biometric issues.

    It added that candidates with issues of biometrics must visit the board’s headquarters in Abuja to be captured.

    The bulletin noted that out of a total of 52 candidates with such challenges nationwide, only 22 showed up at the board’s headquarters for the process.

    Meanwhile the bulletin also noted that the slash in the UTME fee by the Federal Government had increased the number of candidates who want to sit for the examination.

    It said government had announced the reduction of the fees for the examination from N5, 000 to N3, 500.

    The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin had told NAN in an interview that over 1.8 million candidates had registered for the examination.

    “The board had in the past six weeks put its UTME and Direct Entry application documents from Feb. 10 to Feb. 21.

    “Many candidates been interviewed disclosed that they were encouraged to register when they discovered that they could afford the new fees,” the bulletin said.

     

  • JAMB registers 1.8m candidates for 2019 UTME

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has registered over 1.8 million candidates for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The Head, Media and Information of the board, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

    NAN reports that registration of candidates for the all Computer Based Test (CBT) commenced on Feb. 10 and terminated on Feb. 21.

    Benjamin said that the registration was a huge success, adding that there were no hitches at all across the various accredited registration centres nationwide.

    “We have concluded the registration and we recorded over 1.8 million candidates for the UTME this year.

    “Registration closed on Feb. 21, when we stopped the pin vending for the exercise.

    “However, some candidates who had acquired the pin but were unable to register before Feb. 21, due to one reason or the other, were allowed to do so till 12 midnight, Feb. 25.

    “The registration finally closed on Feb. 25, he said.

    The JAMB spokesman dismissed rumours in some quarters that candidates could start printing their examination notification slip from March 2.

    “This is misleading and absolutely not correct.

    “Let me sound it clearly that the board has not come up with any date for both the examination and the printing of examination notification slip for candidates.

    “The board will announce the date for the 2019 UTME soon.

    “As it is now, no date has been fixed yet for both the examination and the printing of examination notification slip.

    “The examination slips are usually printed, two weeks to the main examination, but that is only after when the examination date has been fixed.

    “There is no way anybody can print examination notification slip when the examination date, itself, has not been fixed.”

    He, therefore, urged candidates and other stakeholders to remain calm, reassuring them that the board would make announcement and proper sensitisation about the date for the examination and printing of examination notification slip.

  • JAMB closes sale of 2019 UTME registration forms

    JAMB closes sale of 2019 UTME registration forms

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has closed the sale of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms.

    The board’s Head of Media, Dr Fabian Benjamin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the sales of the forms, ended on Thursday.

    Benjamin, however, said that online registration was still ongoing.

    Benjamin said, “This is because some people earlier bought e-pins for the exams but were unable to register before now, so we are monitoring them online and would avail them the opportunity to register.

    ” Therefore, we cannot give the exact figure of the registered candidates for now until this is over. ”

    He added that the registration would continue until the board decided.

    NAN reports that the board had commenced the sale and online registration of 2019 to 2020 UTME forms on January 10 and was scheduled to end on Feb. 21.

    On the issue of rescheduled dates for both the mock and main examinations, Benjamin said that the board was yet to decide on a new date but would give updates as soon as possible.

    NAN reports that the board considered rescheduling the initial dates for the examination because of the shift of dates for the general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    Speaking also on the suspension of 17 Computer Based Test (CBT) centres across the country, Benjamin said that the suspension would not, in any way, affect the process of the examinations as the board had over 700 accredited centres nationwide.

     

  • BREAKING: JAMB shifts UTME exams

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) has shifted the dates for the conduct of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

    The management of the board is currently in a meeting to decide a new date for the examinations.

    Details shortly…

  • JAMB suspends 17 CBT centres over malpractices, says no going back on Thursday deadline

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has suspended 17 Computer-Based Test centres from registering candidates for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for involving in different forms of malpractices.

    The board also said it would not extend the registration of candidates which will end on Thursday, February 21, with over 1.6 million persons now registered for the exam.

    The Chairman of JAMB’s Governing Board, Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe, stated this in a bulletin from the Office of the Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, released by the board on Monday.

    Ndukwe said the board had regulated the registration with guiding rules and regulations to prevent Nigerians from being extorted by fraudulent CBT centres.

    The chairman said, “The 2019 registration commenced on Thursday, January 10, and is expected to end on Thursday, February 21. There would be no extension of the exercise as the deadline remains sacrosanct.

    “To ensure that Nigerians are not exploited or have their data mutilated, the board has regulated the registration exercise so that we may obtain the actual statistics that will reflect the realities on the ground.

    “Any centre we find not complying with the ethics of registration will be sanctioned and we believe that this is the way to go in ensuring that the right things are done. All requirements have been defined and agreed upon by the board and centre owners.”

    According to the JAMB’s release, the suspended CBT centres are Matar Miseri Cordiae Centre and Mardakem Company Limited, both in Akwa-Ibom State; Bintels Global Services, Anambra State; Global ICT Connect Limited, Benue State; Swiftcom Global, Cross River State; Sapele Technical College, Delta State; Evangel University, Ebonyi State; Bishop Gabriel CBT Centre and DA Civic Centre, both in Edo State.

    Others are; University of Benin ICT Centre and Netskills Digital Solutions, both in Edo State; College of Education, Ikere-Ekiti and St. Silas Anglican School, both in Ekiti State; Medes ICT Centre in Ondo State; Divine Success CBT Centre in Oyo State; Riyom ICT Centre in Plateau State, and Taraba State University CBT Centre in Taraba State.

  • 2019 UTME: JAMB registers over 1.6 million few days to closure

    2019 UTME: JAMB registers over 1.6 million few days to closure

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says not less than 1.8 million candidates would be registered for its 2019 UTME by the end of the registration exercise scheduled for Feb. 21.

    The Board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos.

    Benjamin expressed satisfaction at the ongoing registration exercise nationwide, adding that so far, it had been smooth with little or no hitches.

    The registration of candidates for this year’s all Computer Based Test (CBT) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), commenced on Feb. 10.

    Meanwhile an official bulletin of the board tagged ‘jambulletin’ issued on Sunday said over 1.6 million candidates had registered for the examination between Feb. 10 and Feb. 15, nationwide, with Lagos recording the highest, with 234,259 candidates.

    According to the bulletin, preparations for the successful conduct of the examination scheduled to commence few weeks from now is in top gear.

    Also contained in the bulletin is the restatement of the unlikely extension of the registration deadline by the board.

    “Candidates would commence the reprinting of their examination notification slips two weeks to the examination date.

    “On the examination slip are candidates’ schedule for the examination, date, time and centre, as well as other necessary information about the examination.

    “Two weeks to the commencement of the examination, candidates will have their slips placed on their profiles.

    “However, in the event where candidates could not access their slip, such candidates can visit the board’s service portal,on www.jamb.org.ng to print the slip,” the bulletin stated.

    It also said that messages would as well be sent to candidates, informing them on when to reprint their e-slip.

    According to the bulletin, the processes are all automated to keep candidates abreast of developments, just as messages will be sent to all candidates informing them on when to print their e-slip.

    The bulletin warned candidates against coming into the examination halls with prohibited items such as wrist watches, telephones and others.

    It re-assured candidates that the board was working round the clock to guarantee their full participation during the examination.

     

  • Niniola buys JAMB forms for 30 students

    Popular Singer Niniola Apata has purchased the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for 30 students.

    She said the gesture which is being carried out under her foundation “Adopt A Child’s Education,” was part of her giving back to the society

    Niniola, an elder sister to Singer Tenientertainer, launched “Adopt A Child’s Education” foundation in July 2018.

    She took to her Instagram page @officialniniola on to announce that her foundation and she have successfully gotten JAMB forms for 30 Students.

    She wrote; “I promise to do more and walk in my late Dad’s shoes…”

    Niniola said the foundation `is her own way of stepping into her late father’s shoes, a man who was known for his advocacy for standard education for every child’

    The singer and songwriter rose to stardom after finishing as third runner up in the sixth season of Project Fame West Africa and became more popular with her songs, “Ibadi” and “Maradonna.

    Niniola was also nominated for “Best New Act” in 2018 BET Awards.

  • JAMB begins sale of 2019 UTME registration forms

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) commenced sale of registration forms, for the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, today Thursday, January 10, 2019.

    Sale of forms will last for six weeks.

    JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has said the board will stop using cyber cafes for registration of candidates from this year.

    He urged all prospective candidates to do their registration and access the board’s major services, in any of its 718 accredited centres in the country.

    “We are no longer going to allow the cyber cafes to do the registration exercise for prospective candidates because they are extorting candidates and overcharging them.

    “They also do services they do not have the capacity to do, coupled with the fact that there was no way of tracking them because they were not registered.

    “Another major reason is the mix-up they create on the data of the candidates. Some will just ask the candidates to write their names and other details down for them.

    “On accumulating such data, they now get all of them mixed-up, thereby creating problems for these candidates.

    “We know there will be uproar because they make a lot of illegitimate money from these services, but we cannot leave the candidates at their mercy.

    “Particularly when people will make noise that it is JAMB that was extorting them,” Oloyede said.

    The 2019 UTME is scheduled to commence on March 16.

  • 2019 UTME: JAMB warns against illegal centres

    2019 UTME: JAMB warns against illegal centres

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has called on prospective candidates to disregard advertisements in the social media announcing sales of registration documents with some illegal centres and subject combinations.

    The board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Lagos.

    He said: “It has come to the notice of the board that some fraudsters have listed out centres for the examination and in the process, inserted some illegal ones.

    “Let me state here that all the processes concerning the board can only be done by approved Computer Based Centres (CBT).”

    According to Benjamin, over 700 centres have so far been accredited for the conduct of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scheduled to commence on March 16.

    He said JAMB would soon publish the list of all approved centres in all its state offices nationwide to guide prospective candidates in choosing centres nearest to them.

    He announced that the sales of registration documents for the examination would commence on Jan. 10.

    “Already the list of over 700 accredited centres for this examination has been uploaded on our website.

    “But we have not published any advert concerning all the processes, we are hoping to do so soon.

    “Precisely before the commencement of the sales of the forms just as we will paste the list of all the accredited CBT centres at all our state offices nationwide.

    “This is to guide the candidates towards the examination processes in order not to fall prey to these fraudsters who are bent on finding ways of causing pains to innocent Nigerians,” Benjamin said.

    He said candidates can also go to Google Play Store on their mobile phones to download the JAMB IBASS for authentic information, especially as regards subject and course combinations, among others.

     

  • Knocks, kudos over FG’s reduction of JAMB, NECO fees

    Knocks, kudos over FG’s reduction of JAMB, NECO fees

    Mixed reactions have trailed the Federal Government’s review of fees for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), Senior Secondary Certificate Examination(SSCE), and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    Some stakeholders, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday, commended the gesture and urged the government to overhaul the education sector.

    NAN reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the downward review of the examination registration fees which will take effect from January 2019.

    The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, who announced the reduction after the FEC’s meeting said the ‎Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) fees for UTME had been reduced from N5,000 to N3,500.

    Mr Adamu said government also reduced the SSCE fees charged by the National Examinations Council (NECO) from N11,350 to N9,850 while the Basic School Certificate Examination (BSCE) by NECO was reduced from N5,500 to N4,000.

    An entrepreneur, Sunday Ukachukwu, described the action as a `good step’ in the right direction.

    “I give the Federal government credit for the downward review, but I think they can still do better because the reduction is not so significant.

    “If they reviewed the fees by 50 per cent, the reduction would have been significant, but what you have is 13 per cent reduction,’’ he said.

    A public affairs analyst, Ben Ekiyi, commended government for the reduction saying that it would ensure inclusiveness among other things.

    “ ‎It is a good thing because any reduction in prices of goods or services always makes the masses happy, especially in these times where many people are facing a lot of hardship. ‎

    “I feel this reduction will ensure inclusiveness as more students will now be able to write these examinations.

    “Since more students will now be able to write the examinations, hidden potentials will be exposed, because we have some intelligent students who have not been able to afford the examination fees,’’ he said.

    A parent, ‎Lelo Apena, said the reduction of fees was a diversion from the real issues plaguing the education sector, such as poor quality of education, dilapidated infrastructure and out- of- school children.

    According to her, this kind of reduction does not make any sense; N1,500 difference will not solve the problems bedeviling the education in Nigeria.

    ‎“I tell you, reduction in these fees is a kind of diversion from the real issue; has the government thought of reducing tuition fees so that those who are qualified will be enrolled and do not drop out for lack of fees?

    “Our tertiary institutions are always on strike; is it the reduction of JAMB fees and NECO that will solve the poor quality of students and lecturer impact?

    “Are the out-of -school children and their parents and guardians being helped to ensure their children are enrolled in school and not drop out before completion for various reasons?‎’’ she queried.

    Mrs Apena was of the opinion that states government should take over the payment of JAMB and NECO fees for poor students in their communities‎.

    A retiree, Ruseh Okaro, who also spoke to NAN, said the reduction was a welcome development, however, she said ‎ the quality of education was still a major cause of concern.
    ‎
    “It is a welcome development but I do not think the fees should have been as high as that in the first place, given the importance of education to the wellbeing of a nation.
    ‎
    “I also hope this reduction is sustainable and a holistic approach was used to arrive at these new fees”.
    ‎
    A parent, Shittu Ahmed, said the reduction was commendable, however, government should look into other areas of the sector such as dilapidated infrastructure and lack of learning materials.
    ‎
    A public servant, Folakemi Aina, said the reduction in the fees was long overdue and wondered why government was coming out with a lot of policies now that elections were drawing closer. (NAN)