Good news: Reps intervene in JAMB crisis

– Reps say JAMB lacks capacity to handle computer-based tests

– Mandate JAMB to conduct computer-based tests and pencil-paper examinations simultaneously for candidates to opt for anyone of their choice

– Lawmaker from Lagos, Emma-Egoh, cites instances of conflicting scores of candidates who took the examination

The technical flaws recorded in the latest computer-based Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination resulted in protests across the country.

Following irregularities recorded at the just concluded computer-based Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the House of Representatives have directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to return to the former pencil-paper method in conducting examinations for candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions.

According to The Punch, the directive which was issued on Thursday, March 17 required that the Federal Ministry of Education prevailed on JAMB to revert to the former pencil-paper tests due to JAMB’s lack of capacity to handle the computer-based tests.

In the alternative, the House said JAMB could conduct computer-based tests and pencil-paper examinations simultaneously for candidates to opt for anyone of their choice.

Oghene Emma-Egoh, a lawmaker from Lagos state who moved the motion cited instances of technical flaws that marred the computer-based tests.

He said: “The House is worried that already, serious admission problem is rocking the nation because JAMB receives huge allocation from the Federal Government, they charge candidates all manner of fees and majority of the candidates do not gain admission because of the technical hitches of the CBT.”

He cited instances of conflicting scores which was occasioned by technical flaws.

He said: “Foluke, the 17-year-old girl in Ejigbo-Lagos, scored an aggregate of 156 in the first result, while in the result that later came out, she had an aggregate of 196.”

Citing another instance, he said Ibrahim Shawulu from Kogi state who scored 399 out of 400, but in less than 24 hours another result surfaced reducing Shawulu’s score to 199.

READ ALSO: NUC says Medical students will now spend 11 years in varsity

Emma-Egoh also recalled many reported cases of computers malfunctioning, leading to outright shut down and jeopardising the admission chances of the candidates.

Besides conflicting scores, he said it was obvious that many candidates could not pass the examination for the simple reason that they were not computer-literate.

Meanwhile, JAMB in response to complaints of irregularities in the computer based tests has noted that the worst CBT is far better than the best paper and pencil test (PPT), stating that“ the era of candidates pouring acid on staff, bolting with question papers into the bush and all manners of unthinkable embarrassing acts were gone”.

The post Good news: Reps intervene in JAMB crisis appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM.