Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB),2023
JAMB may allow UTME candidates to use phones in future. According to reports, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is considering a new policy in which applicants taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would be required to utilize their mobile phones and other personal devices.
Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of JAMB, made the announcement on Saturday in Abuja while speaking at the 2023 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria.
He based the suggested approach on the increased expense of logistics in administering the UTME across the country.
According to Oloyede, the Board spent over N1.2 billion to outfit a CBT center in Kaduna state, mainly in acquiring laptops for applicants to utilize during the examination.
The “Bring Your Own Device” policy may compel candidates who desire to take the UTME in the future to bring their own gadgets to the test hall.
Oloyede bemoaned candidates’ desire for university education at the expense of polytechnics and institutes of education.
While criticising the country’s significant gap in admission quotas, he urged aspiring undergraduates to consider alternative options in the tertiary education industry.
The board stated in Oloyede’s presentation, “On the way forward, we are looking at BOYD – the direction for JAMB Students to bring their telephones.” It reduces capital investment but does not improve digital literacy. A mobile examinational malpractice tribunal would be established to deal with the criminal aspect while institutions deal with the wrongdoing.
“On cybercrime, we will collaborate with security operatives and relevant agencies, engaging the machinery and sponsoring them to tap into their knowledge of candidates.” Transferring some services to the registration portal to avoid extortion Cheating is discouraged by open book examination.
“Political will and collaborative efforts to adopt a single identity for all NIMC citizens in order to discourage impersonation.”