Panic Grips JAMB Candidates

P.M. News (Lagos)

May 7, 2004
Posted to the web May 7, 2004

Bamidele Ogunwusi
Lagos

Candidates sitting for tomorrow's University Matriculation Examination, (UME) being conducted by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have been thrown into confusion, as they are unsure of sitting for the examination.

P.M.News learnt that some candidates who thronged their centres yesterday for their examination numbers were disappointed when they discovered that the numbers were not ready.

Unable to know their examination numbers, some candidates, especially those who had paid money to so-called agents and impersonators, have begun to lament their fate, as it may be difficult for them to be "assisted" during the examination tomorrow.

Visits to continuing education centres this morning revealed that some of the candidates, worried about their fate, have begun to threaten principals and directors of these centres.

The reason for the delay in pasting examination numbers of candidates at their respective centres, according to the vice principal of a secondary school on College Road, Ifako, which will serve as a centre, is part of measures by JAMB to eradicate examination malpractices, hinting that the delay has nothing to do with organisational lapses by JAMB. He said the organisation had sent a message that the situation was under control.

His words: "There is no need for any candidate to panic, JAMB has sent a message to us that their numbers will be ready later today." JAMB, in the past, had reiterated its commitment to ensuring that this year's University Matriculation Examination (UME) will be devoid of the usual examination malpractices that had tainted it lately.

Some of the measures that JAMB had put in place to eradicate cheating are cancellation of special centres, long period of sales of forms and eradication of late entry forms.