As part of efforts to curb malpractices in the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admission Matriculation (JAMB) has put new strategies in place.
According to JAMB, CCTV cameras and electronic jammers will be installed across all CBT centres in the country to deactivate mobile networks.
JAMB has also announced that all lens detectors will also be made available in all centres to check all eyeglasses.
Due to these new strategies, JAMB has prohibited and warned candidates from coming to centres with the following items;
1.Wristwatches.
It was discovered that during the conduct of the 2017 UTME, electronic devices including wristwatches.
โSo, for next year, (2018) we have banned the use of wristwatches and pens by candidates and other persons in the examination hall. JAMB said.
2. Writing materials
There is no need to go to exam hall with pens, pencils, erasers, and sharpeners since the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is now computer based.
3. Spectacles
Any candidatesโ going for the 2018 UTME is not expected to wear spectacles as JAMB listed eyeglasses as part of the banned items.
This according to JAMB Registrar, Prof Is-haq Oloyede is the reason the exam body installed lens detector in all CBT centres.
He said, โthe lens detectors will also be made available at all centres to find out the status of all eyeglasses if a candidate or anyone must go in with it.
4. Mobile phones
Your mobile phone too is not allowed to be taken to the CBT centres. According to JAMB, your phones will be deactivated if you bring it to the exam hall.
To all the CBT centres, the rule this year is that electronic jammers will be installed across all the centres to deactivate all mobile phone networks because we have seen what many of them have done with phones and other electronic toolsโ
5. Calculators
Just like other electronic devices, JAMB has banned the use of calculators in the UTME exam hall.
Other items such as faze cap, wrist band, etc are also not permitted at examination centres.
…Ilorin NGO trains 90 students on CBT
By Kayode Adeoti
An Ilorin based Non Governmental Organisation; Academics Excellence Initiative (AEI) has trained no fewer than 90 students on the use of computer ahead of the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The training took place last weekend at the Lamp Bearers Islamic School, Asa Dam Road, Ilorin, the Kwara State.
Speaking during the training, the Project Coordinator, Dr. Yakub Saheed who doubles as Consultant, Orthopaedic Surgeon at Ibrahim Babangida Specialist hospital, Minna, Niger State, stressed that right mentalities must be planted in the candidates to guide against examination malpractices.
He added that in the forthcoming UTME, students should desist from exam vices that could have negative impacts on them in the future.
Saheed stated that as technology is getting sophisticated, so also is examination malpractice on the increase.
“Parents are encouraging students on computer to engage in negative vices by hiring teachers who will act as mercenaries for their wards during the exams.
“Some students who were helped to write UTME scored high marks but could not cope in the University because they secured admission through examination malpractices.
“Parents should not go through the back door to secure admission for their wards because it will backfire in the future. In the Universities nowadays, if a student scores an average GP less than 1.00 in the first year, such student will be asked to withdraw,” he added.
Speaking on the motive of the NGO, the Project Coordinator said, “Academic Excellence Initiative (AEI) is set up for candidates who are preparing for JAMB examination. We feel that we want to create an opportunity for them to practice how to go through the examination (UTME).
โThis is the second edition of the mock session. We did one last year. When candidates practice very well they are expected to do better in their Computer Based Test (CBT).
Though JAMB do organise mock examination, not all candidates take part in such examination. โ
Speaking with our reporter, one of the beneficiaries, Akinfola Odunayo expressed optimism that she now has better understanding of what JAMB is all about.
“The initiative has helped me in particular because I don’t have an idea of what UTME is all about. Now I can operate the computer and do the examination with ease. I have also learnt on how to be fast when writing the examination,” she stated.
Similarly, Sekinat Oba described the training as highly educative adding that she is now better prepared for the examination.
