JAMB Directs CBT Centre Owners to Arrest Parents Near UTME Venues

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a directive to all Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre owners to apprehend any parent found loitering near their facilities during the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) exercise. The instruction came from the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Isaq Oloyede, during a virtual meeting with CBT centre operators and owners held on Wednesday.

In a statement by JAMB spokesman, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the measure aims to curb parental intrusion into the conduct of the exam. Parents found breaching this directive will risk disqualification of their wards from writing the examination. According to the statement, this action is deemed necessary due to the involvement of some parents in examination malpractices and disruptions in previous examinations, with some posing as parents to perpetrate infractions.

Furthermore, security personnel are expected to collaborate with CBT owners to ensure the smooth conduct of the examination. The board emphasized the need for compliance with the national policy on education, highlighting the age requirement of 17 years for candidates sitting for the UTME. With the examination taking place across 700 CBT centres nationwide, JAMB assured candidates of adequate preparations to address any technical challenges that may arise during the exercise, outlining contingency plans for rescheduling affected sessions to maintain the integrity of the examination.

Candidates are urged to remain composed in the event of any disruptions, as any individual or parent causing subsequent session disturbances may face immediate disqualification from the examination.