The Nigerian Senate has called for improvements in the operations of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), while expressing overall satisfaction with the conduct of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The call follows an oversight inspection by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education, led by its Chairman, Muntari Dandutse, which visited selected Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Abuja to assess the exercise.
During the visit, the committee observed that activities ran smoothly at centres including Ansar-Ud-Deen International School and Government Secondary School Tundun Wada.
However, the exercise recorded setbacks at the Good Success CBT Centre, where protests erupted as candidates and parents complained of technical glitches that prevented some students from taking their exams.
Reacting to the situation, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Fabian Benjamin, attributed the disruptions to unforeseen circumstances but assured that measures had been put in place to address the challenges.
MUST READ: Anyanwu Goes On Appeal Of PDP Dispute
He added that affected candidates would be accommodated through the board’s mop-up examination process to ensure that no one is disadvantaged.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Dandutse, apologised to affected candidates and assured that the Senate would investigate the incident.
He also urged JAMB to urgently resolve the issues and strengthen its systems to prevent a recurrence.
While commending the general conduct of the examination, the committee stressed the need for continuous improvement to enhance credibility and efficiency.
Senator Dandutse further encouraged Nigerians to embrace education and research, describing them as critical tools for national development.
He also expressed satisfaction with the diverse participation of candidates, including a military personnel observed sitting for the examination, noting that it reflects the growing value placed on education across different segments of society.
(Editor: Roluke Ogundele)
