Amid preparations for the 2024 UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has ordered the arrest of parents, found near UTME CBT centres.
In a virtual briefing with Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre owners on April 17th, 2024, JAMB Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede emphasised the need to curb parental interference during the examination.
Addressing previous instances of parental intrusion which disrupted exam proceedings, Prof. Oloyede mandated CBT centre owners to take firm action against any parent found near their facilities during the UTME. Parents flouting this directive face arrest, and their wards risk disqualification from the exam.
The measure stems from the discovery that certain parents, posing as facilitators, have been involved in exam malpractice, while others have caused disruptions during past exams. To enforce this directive, security personnel are to collaborate closely with CBT centres to apprehend any interfering parents.
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Prof. Oloyede underscored the requirement that UTME candidates be at least 17 years old, highlighting instances where parents attempt to smuggle underage children into the exam halls to manipulate officials. Such actions, he stated, warrant severe sanctions.
Moreover, candidates were advised to safeguard their personal information to prevent exploitation by fraudulent websites. Any candidate found associated with such sites risks prosecution.
Despite meticulous arrangements for the 2024 UTME, spanning over 700 CBT centres nationwide, Prof. Oloyede warned of possible technical glitches. In the event of a disruption, affected candidates will be rescheduled, while those causing disruptions face disqualification.
Appealing to CBT centre owners to view their role as a national duty rather than solely profit-driven, Prof. Oloyede urged them to expose any unethical practices among their ranks.
He lamented the discontinuation of Direct Entry candidate registration due to fraudulent behaviors among some centres, emphasizing the need for integrity.
Expressing concern over attempts by CBT centres to compromise JAMB staff, Prof. Oloyede urged transparency and warned against any form of inducement. The deployment of advanced technologies aims to deter infractions and maintain the integrity of the examination process.
In conclusion, Prof. Oloyede assured stakeholders of JAMB’s commitment to fair and transparent conduct of the UTME, leveraging modern tools to uphold standards and combat malpractice.
