There are high expectations from the over 1.5
million candidates who will troop to the over
3,100 examination centres to write what
could be the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examinations (UTME) in the history of
Nigerian education, this Saturday, April 27.
If the Oronsaye report, which advocates that
the powers of the Joint Admissions and
Matriculations Board (JAMB) be divested and
universities be solely charged with
candidates’ entrance exams, these students
will make an unprecedented mark in JAMB’s
36-year-old history.
Recall that the House of Representatives, on
Tuesday, directed the Board to suspend its
newly introduced computer-based test (CBT)
for the 2013 UTME scheduled to have held on
Saturday, April 20.
Instead, the lawmakers asked JAMB to revert
to its paper and pencil-based examinations,
citing inadequate sensitisation and
preparation, as well as lack of necessary
infrastructure in secondary schools as reasons
for arriving at the decision.
To this end, the House equally summoned the
Minister of Education, Professor Rukayyatu
Rufa’i and the Registrar of JAMB, Professor
Dibu Ojerinde, to provide explanations on
what it tagged, “policy somersault” in view of
the CBT introduced by the board.
Students writing exam
To ensure a hitch-free exam, the Board has
enlisted the services of security operatives
such as Civil Defense Corps, the Police and
some private security operatives, while some
independent watch groups made up of Vice-
Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, among others,
would be on hand to monitor events.
With over 122 universities, Vanguard
Learning got a mixture of responses when the
candidates revealed that they are ready to go
to any length to ensure that they are among
those who are considered for the limited
admission spaces into institutions of learning.
Chiyere Ijioma is reading extra hard and has
embarked on reading till daybreak to ensure
that she scores high points. “Everything is
behind me and my studies have taken center-
place because I don’t want to cheat to pass.”
Idowu Oreoluwa who wants to study Food
Science and Technology and is in favour of
scrapping the exam body, failing UTME
doesn’t mean the person is not intelligent.
“I am preparing very hard by attending
lessons and reading on my own because I
passed my WAEC and really want to be
admitted this time around.”
For Firminus Idenyi, who opined that
scrapping UTME would put financially
handicapped students in a disadvantaged
position said; “Preparations are being taken
seriously to ensure that I gain admission this
year. I don’t intend to cheat because the
consequences are dire and I don’t want to
waste all my family has spent on my
education.”
For Bukola King, a second timer, perfecting
her timing would mean being a step closer to
gaining admission this year. “I would improve
on all the subjects I did last year. Though I’m
prepared, and my plan is to improve on my
timing as I didn’t finish the questions last
year and that affected my aggregate score.”
Calling on students to shun all forms of exam
malpractice, a tutorial center coordinator, Mr.
Joseph Ajibola, urged them to put in their
best and be hopeful for admission.
“The truth is that it is not all students tat sit
for the exams are offered admission, but hope
is not lost as those that can afford it can go to
neighbouring countries to further their
education.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/04/students-write-what-might-be-last-utme/