Dr Fabian Benjamin, Head, Public Affairs and Protocol of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says the conduct of the 2023 UTME exercise so far, nationwide, has been impressive.
Benjamin stated this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.
Recall that the UTME, the all Computer Based Test (CBT) of the board, began across the country on Tuesday, and is expected to run till May 2
According to him, the board has noted some of the hitches noticed in the conduct of the examination in previous years.
He said it had continued to deploy resources in ensuring that such occurrences were nipped in the board permanently.
“I just want to state that we are impressed with the way things are going in the over 700 centres earmarked for the conduct of this year’s examination on this first day, going by the reports filtering in from centres across the country.
“Every year after the examination, we carry out appraisals on how the centres and all other stakeholders have performed.
“This, we do to ensure that we get the process much more better ahead of all other examinations.
“It is worthy to note that this whole effort is about the Nigerian child, as it is the resolve of our Chief Executive, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, not to leave any of them who cravesfor higher learning behind.
“Let me therefore assure you that the board will continue to do all within its power, to ensure that we attain the quest for a sanitsed education system in the country.
“I also believe that the huge success recorded on this first day of this examination is an attestation of the work we have done, in readiness for this examination and want to also believe that it would be sustained and even get better,” he said.
Benjamin reiterated the need for candidates to get to their respective examination centres early, as no excuse would be entertained.
“The board has zero tolerance for examination malpractice and therefore, I want to urge candidates to refrain from any form of ignoble act or conduct, during the examination,” he stated.
Meanwhile, more participants have shared their experiences with NAN correspondents who visited centres across Lagos State.
At Perfect Angel CBT Centre, Emeya Close, Off Social Club Road, Abule-Egba and Timeon Kairos Polytechnic, Lagos Abeokuta Express Way, candidates expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the excercise, describing it as sweet experience.
Adeniran Alameen, a candidate who sat for the examination at the Timeon Kairos Polytechnic, said that he was impressed with the orderly manner the candidates conducted themselves.
He also lauded the centre officials and those of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their efforts in ensuring that candidates complied with the rules of the exercise.
“I am particularly impressed with the general implementation in this year’s UTME.
“I must confess that JAMB has really improved, compared to what obtained last year, in this particular centre.
”It is indeed a hitch-free examination and I hope it continues this way,” Alameen said.
On her part, Miss Faith Bashiru, who sat for the examination at the Perfect Angel CBT Centre also commended the centre officials and the JAMB for what she described as a job well done.
“I want to say that this is how examinations should be conducted.
”It really gave me joy experiencing this sort of calm and peaceful environment.
”It ensured that I stayed focused and finished my examination in good time. The systems were top notch,” she stated.
Mr Okezie Chimobi, a JAMB ad hoc official at the Timeon Kairos Polytechnic told NAN that only a few candidates did not turn up for the examination. (NAN)
