Posted on: 05:06 Tue, 15 Mar 2016



The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board
(JAMB), says it has uncovered plans by a
faceless group under the aegis of education
consultants to stage a protest in Lagos over
some challenges in the conduct of the ongoing
Universities Tertiary Matriculation Examination
(UTME).

A statement issued on Monday night in Abuja
by the Head of Media in JAMB, Dr. Fabian
Benjamin, entitled: “Protest By Education
Consultants”, said the protests were being
sponsored by some proprietors whose
examination centres were lacking in all the
indices needed for a successful Computer
Based Test (CBT) examination.

The statement reads: “The attention of the
Board has been drawn to a planned protest
(tomorrow, Tuesday in Lagos) over the Board’s
activities by individuals who called themselves
education consultants. JAMB has called for
calm and advised candidates to always avail
themselves of the opportunity provided by the
board through it public complaints unit to vent
their grievances and not to allow blackmailers
to use them for any selfish interest.

“The Board had approved centres provided by
these individuals to be used for the 2016
exercise but unfortunately couldn’t as the
centres were found to be lacking in all the
indices needed for a successful CBT
examination.

“This was discussed with these proprietors and
they showed understanding as they witnessed
the difficulties the Board went through to run
even a session in their centres.

“It’s surprising that these same proprietors will
turn around to organised candidates to protest
over our activities. We are not perfect as an
organisation but working hard to ensure that
Nigerian education is better than it is, we have
taken the risk to do the unthinkable so as to
change the paradigm.

“We will continue to call on all Nigerians to
give us the benefits of doubt and with their
collective support we will give them one of the
best CBT globally.

“Its no news that the worst CBT is far better
than the best Paper and pencil Test. At least,
the era of candidates pouring acid on staff,
bolting with question papers into the bush and
all manners of unthinkable embarrassing acts
are gone.

“We will continue to show leadership in the
conduct of public examination in Africa and
beyond. Again all candidates with genuine
complaints are urged to visit any of our offices
nationwide.”