Joint Admission And Matriculation Board
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE CONDUCT OF
2016 COMPUTER BASED TEST (CBT)
UNIFIED TERTIARY MATRICULATION EXAMINATION (UTME)
INTRODUCTION
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will be conducting the 2016 UTME from Saturday, 27rd February, 2016. This exercise is expected to last not more than 14 days. This is the first examination we are conducting under this administration and the Board want to use this opportunity to commend the Federal Government, the Press and all Stakeholders for the support it has given to the Board in ensuring that its activities are successful.
REOPENING OF REGISTRATION PORTAL
The Board after the closure of registration had to reopen it portal for candidates who couldn’t complete the process of the 2016 registration to do so, however this didn’t include fresh registration. This was a 48hours grace and is expected to close by Thursday 12midnight. The Board want to use this opportunity to clearly state that the Federal Ministry of Education and JAMB will not be doing this again and prospective future candidates should take note as registration will close as indicated on our advertiement.
The Board’s matriculation examination has grown to be a vitally indispensable gateway to tertiary institutions in Nigeria with a great measure of performance and integrity emulated globally inspite of increasing number of candidates and other challenges which the Board’s Management has consistently devised ways of addressing. For purposes of clarity, let me remind Nigerians that, the first Joint Matriculation Examination (JME) was held in 74 towns in Nigeria and by a special request in Gambia. A total number of 96,884 candidates were tested.
However, the challenges in the conduct of examination became enormous as the number of candidates increased. Question papers were printed flown into Nigeria and transported in trailers escorted by security agents to the Board’s office.
The distribution of the materials to the various examination towns was also done largely by air, road etc. Materials were stacked up in large cartons and distributed to states from where they were conveyed in vehicles to the custodians.
This was the story of the Board. Today, the Computer Based Test (CBT) has erased all this hurdles and ensures that the system is seamless. And we call on Nigerians to continue to support the Board in this drive to return the glory of Nigerian education when it was placed far above foreign education.
In our effort to maximize the utilization of the few spaces in our tertiary institutions introduced the redistribution of candidates in the last admission exercise. This policy was grossly misunderstood even though these candidates were candidates that were not admit-able based on the prevailing guidelines.
However, the Board has fine-tone the policy by introducing another choice after the preferred amongst schools that are under-subscribed to enable candidates take-up a second opportunity if they fail to get their first preferred choice.
Again, let me use this opportunity to explain the misconception about cut-off points. First the cut-off point is not set by the Board, but by the policy committee chaired by the Honourable Minister of Education with the Board, Vice-Chancellors, Provost of Education, Rectors of Polytechnics, Monotechnics etc. The 180 cut-off point is a minimum requirement and not an indication that one is admissible. Other factors, criteria of admissions will also follow in arriving at what constitute admissible cut-off point.
Nigerians should also note that institutions are at liberty to go higher than 180 depending on their peculiarity and this does not in anyway infringe on the powers of the Board.
NUMBER OF CANDIDATES
A total number of One Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-Nine Thousand, One Hundred and Seventy-Fifty (1,589,175) candidates applied for the 2016 UTME.
In the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted in 2015, a total of One Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-Seven (1,475,477) candidates registered for the 2015 UTME.
The figure for the 2016 UTME shows an increase of One Hundred and Thirteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Seventy-three (113,673)applicants when compared with last year’s figure of One Million, Four Hundred and Seventy-Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-seven (1,475,477).
2.4 In addition, Three Hundred and Forty-three (343) Prison Inmates registered for the 2016 UTME. They will also have access to computers at both the Kaduna and Ikoyi prisons.
2.5 The table presented below shows the details of the top ten (10) and lowest ten (10) applications by states in the 2016 Registration Exercise.
■ TOP TEN (10) HIGHEST APPLICATIONS BY STATE
S/N.
STATES
NO. OF APPLICATIONS
1.
Imo
102,727
2.
Osun
83,060
3.
Oyo
81,065
4.
Delta
80,197
5.
Anambra
76,777
6.
Ogun
72,023
7.
Enugu
66,770
8.
Kaduna
65,355
9.
Edo
64,508
10.
Benue
62,140
S/N.
STATES
N0. OF
APPLICATIONS
1.
FCT
5,069
2.
Zamfara
7,254
3.
Yobe
12,079
4.
Kebbi
12,398
5.
Sokoto
13,443
6.
Jigawa
14,472
7.
Borno
19,723
8.
Bayelsa
19,894
9.
Taraba
20,357
10.
Adamawa
21,025
■ TOP TEN (10) LOWEST APPLICATIONS BY STATE
3.0 EXAMINATION TOWNS AND CENTRES
3.1 The examination will hold simultaneously in Five Hundred and Twenty-one (521) Examination Centres in Nigeria and Eight (8) Foreign Centres namely: Accra in Ghana, Buea in Republic of Cameroun, Cotonou in Republic of Benin, London in United Kingdom, Jeddah in Kingdom of Saudi-Arabia, Johannesburg in Republic of South Africa, Addis in Ethiopia and Abidjan in Cote d’Ivoire.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED CANDIDATES
Visually Impaired candidates are expected to take the examination at designated centres in all State Capitals and the FCT.
4.2 It is the Board’s desire to ensure that no candidate is deprived of taking its examination. The examination will be conducted using the Braillenote Apex Computers for the Visually Impaired candidates in order to give them the opportunity to pursue their dreams academically.
4.3 A total of Two Hundred and one (201) Visually Impaired candidates registered for this year’s examination and adequate arrangements have been provided to ensure that they partake in the examination.
BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION MACHINE
Following the continuous determination of the Board to curb the incidences of examination malpractice and other related offences, the Board will continue to use the Biometric Verification Machine to verifying candidates before admitting them for the examination. Also, candidates will be expected to thumb-print after the examinations.
EXAMINATION NOTICES
6.1 Candidates were expected to have commenced printing of their e-registration slips as at Thursday, 18th February, 2016.This slips can be printed anywhere there is an internet service.
6.2 Candidates are required to come to the Examination Centres with their e-registration slips only. They are not allowed to come to examination halls with any writing materials.
6.3 Candidates will be provided with scratch sheets in the examination halls. All candidates are required to provide such information as registration number, examination number and signature on the scratch sheets.
Let me state here that candidates are allowed to change their choices of institutions and courses only once. This change has to be effected within two [2] weeks after the results are released.
Candidates are once again warned that the use of handsets or any communication gadgets in and around the Examination Venues is prohibited. Anyone found with such gadgets would be deemed to have been engaged in Examination Malpractice as outlined in the provisions of the Examination Malpractice Decree No. 33 of 1999.
EXAMINATION OFFICIALS
7.1 The Board is appealing to all Examination Officials to ensure that instructions are read and adhered to by candidates. They are to ensure that candidates are obliged all necessary and approved assistance in the hall to ensure a smooth conduct.
The Board will also want to remind Examination Officials that the rules guiding the conduct of the examination have been included in the Training Manual given to them. We appeal to them to follow the steps as indicated in the manual for a hitch-free examination.
MONITORING OF THE EXAMINATION
8.1 The Board has engaged the services of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the State Security Services (SSS), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Special Security Forces in security challenged areas etc. to monitor Examination Centres and maintain close surveillance during the examination for a peaceful and successful conduct.
8.2 The Board will equally engage the services of Independent Examination Watch Groups, to monitor the examination. The group will comprise Eminent Personalities including Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Rectors of Polytechnics, Provosts of Colleges of Education, Officials of the Federal and State Ministries of Education, immediate Past Directors of the Board, Stake-holders in the Education Sector and other observers. It is important to mention that the Groups’ Reports have been of immense benefit to the Board in the past; hence we are encouraged to continue engaging them.
9.0 RESCHEDULING OF CANDIDATES
9.1 Candidates are hereby informed that there will be no rescheduling of any examination. Any candidate who fails to turn up for his/her examination on the date assigned has missed the examination. Please note that the examination has been programmed in such a way that rescheduling is impossible.
EXAMINATION IRREGULARITIES/MALPRACTICE
10.1 With CBT, the Board is expecting Examination Malpractice to be reduced to the barest minimum. However, lateness to examination will not be tolerated. In our continued fight against Examination Malpractice and to ensure the credibility of our examination, we want to assure the general public that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is alive to its responsibilities. I want to sound a note of warning once more to those who may be tempted to compromise our well organised arrangement that they shall be made to face the full weight of the law.
10.2 The Board is hereby appealing to all candidates to strictly adhere to all laid down rules by conducting themselves properly during the examination.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board wish all candidates success in their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Thank you and God bless.
Prof. ‘Dibu Ojerinde, OON
Registrar/Chief Executive
