UTME: JAMB RAISES ALARM OVER SPONSORED PROTEST BY BLACKMAILERS

Nigeria, March 15, 2016 – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has uncovered plans by a faceless group under the aegis of education consultants to stage a protest in Lagos over some challenges in the conduct of the ongoing Universities Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

A statement issued by Head of Media in JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, entitled: “Protest By Education Consultants”, said the protests were being sponsored by some proprietors whose examination centres were lacking in all the indices needed for a successful Computer Based Test (CBT) examination.

“The attention of the Board has been drawn to a planned protest (tomorrow, Tuesday in Lagos) over the Board’s activities by individuals who called themselves education consultants. JAMB has called for calm and advised candidates to always avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the board through it public complaints unit to vent their grievances and not to allow blackmailers to use them for any selfish interest.

“The Board had approved centres provided by these individuals to be used for the 2016 exercise but unfortunately couldn’t as the centres were found to be lacking in all the indices needed for a successful CBT examination. This was discussed with these proprietors and they showed understanding as they witnessed the difficulties the Board went through to run even a session in their centres.

“It’s surprising that these same proprietors will turn around to organised candidates to protest over our activities. We are not perfect as an organisation but working hard to ensure that Nigerian education is better than it is, we have taken the risk to do the unthinkable so as to change the paradigm.

We will continue to call on all Nigerians to give us the benefits of doubt and with their collective support we will give them one of the best CBT globally. Its no news that the worst CBT is far better than the best Paper and pencil Test. At least, the era of candidates pouring acid on staff, bolting with question papers into the bush and all manners of unthinkable embarrassing acts are gone.

“We will continue to show leadership in the conduct of public examination in Africa and beyond. Again all candidates with genuine complaints are urged to visit any of our offices nationwide.”