During the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), some candidates encountered technical glitches, leading to concerns and complaints.
However, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has assured affected candidates that their exams would be rescheduled.
Prof. Oloyede, speaking after overseeing the examination at Kogo-Bwari, Abuja, stated that despite these challenges, the UTME has been generally successful. He mentioned that only one centre reported significant problems.
He explained, “We appeal to the public to understand this; some centres will encounter difficulties. I have heard of only one centre that faced challenges today.
By the end of today, I expect about 10 percent of the centres to encounter one problem or another due to varying levels of development in different parts of the country.”
He emphasized the importance of not disrupting the examination process in case of any problems, adding, “When a session fails due to a technical issue, affected candidates cannot be accommodated in subsequent sessions. They will have to wait, and the JAMB headquarters will have to be contacted.”
Prof. Oloyede further elaborated on the rescheduling process, stating, “The earliest time they can be rescheduled will be after 4:30 p.m., so that candidates scheduled for later sessions can write their exams. In some cases, affected candidates may even be rescheduled for the following day.”
Expressing his dissatisfaction, Prof. Oloyede criticized the practice of awarding scholarships to UTME top performers without considering other admission criteria, deeming such awards premature.
He commended the smooth conduct of the examination, especially acknowledging parents for their cooperation, noting that in previous exercises, parents had sometimes caused problems for their children.
