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By Oscar Okhifo
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Sunday, released the results of the recently resitted 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) examination.
Recall that over 315,000 candidates who experienced glitches in the initial examination took the resit, after JAMB admitted it was responsible for the errors and apologized profusely.
In a statement announcing the release of the results, JAMB Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, said it has also revealed numerous alarming practices perpetrated by candidates, some proprietors of schools/Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, which have over the years exacerbated examination irregularities.
The statement read: “It would be recalled that after the conduct of the resit examination, a meeting of the Board’s Chief External Examiners (CEEs) in all states of the federation was held to consider the results. In attendance at the meeting were a few notables.
“After consideration of the report of the resit examination, and extensive deliberations thereon, a sub-committee, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University, Prof. Olufemi Peters, who is also the Chief External Examiner (CEE) FCT, was constituted to confirm that the results are in order.
“The CEEs reviewed the exercise and directed that an expert in psychometrics, Prof. Boniface Nworgu, be invited to analyse and endorse the results for subsequent release.
“As part of the healing process, the meeting resolved that the withheld results of under-age candidates (except where litigation is involved), who performed below the established standards, be released.
“Such result does not however qualify them for admission, as they had previously signed an undertaking during the registration process acknowledging that only those who meet the prescribed standards would be considered for under-age special admission.
“Release of Result of Candidates involved in “WhatsApp Runs” and other Misdemeanours: This category of candidates were found to have been involved in illicit solicitation of assistance. The meeting emphasised that its decision is not an endorsement of candidates’ unacceptable acts, rather a once and for all waiver.
“Candidates were thus advised to refrain from joining questionable “WhatsApp and other anti-social groups.
“While noting the over 93% attendance at the resit examination, the meeting offered all the candidates absent an opportunity to participate during the normal annual mop-up examination. This waiver is also extended to the candidates who for whatever reason must have missed the initial main UTME.
“The meeting condemned the involvement of some CBT centres in perpetrating serious registration and examination malpractices and resolved that all the implicated CBT centres should be blacklisted, while complicit owners should be prosecuted.
” In addition, the identified individuals, who directly registered the candidates with modified pictures and biometrics be apprehended and prosecuted.
“The meeting observed with great concern, the role of some tutorial centres in the perpetration of examination malpractices. It urged governments at all levels to take appropriate steps in ensuring that operators of tutorial centres are properly regulated, licensed and constantly monitored. This is to curtail the initiation of candidates into the path of dishonesty.
“The meeting acknowledged the significant contributions of Computer-Based Testing in diminishing instances of examination malpractice and advancing the nation towards a digital society. Despite some shortcomings, CBT remains the viable option for ensuring a malpractice-free examination process.
“The meeting acknowledged the detailed and rigorous processes adopted by the Board in the accreditation of CBT centres by state panels led by the CEEs. It was, however, advised that a reputable firm of management consultants be engaged to advise on improving the process of accrediting CBT centres, registration procedures, and other critical operational stages.” He concluded.
As at the time this report was being put together, various stakeholders and members of the National Assembly who had demanded for probe and outright cancelation of the entire excersise had made no comment on this recent development.