The Computer Based Test Centre Proprietorsโ Association ofย Nigeriaย (CPAN) has accused the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) of failing to effectively address infractions and technical hitches that engender examination malpractice.
It said unresolved technical hitches surrounding the conduct of the examination led to failure of candidates in the 2019 JAMB examinations.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, President of CPAN, Chiadikobi Akwuruoha, said JAMB has not sufficiently addressed challenges arising from registration, incompetence of some JAMB officials and ad-hoc staff in the conduct ย of ย its examinations leading to failure of candidates.
โInfractions related registration ranges from registration done outside a designated CBT Center, to data swap and multiple registrations. CPAN in its considerations identifies the failure of the technology deployed for registration, schemes for exam malpractice and pressure on the part of proprietors struggling to recoup their investments under miserable remuneration as rentals from JAMB as the fundamental causes of the challenges associated with registration.
โTechnical difficulties during the 2019 UTME examination, failures associated with technical efficiency were identified as failure from the biometric verification system, lack of basic computer knowledge by the candidates, incompetence of some JAMB ad hoc technical staffย and failure of the JAMB browser rapid test under a strict condition for non-use of alternatives like google, chrome and firefox browsersโ, he said.
CPAN said โgrand technical failure by centers (private, public and JAMB model centers) ranging from power failure, to network connectivity issues, computer and cooling systemsโ, were other challenges facing the examination process.
โCritical thoughts on exam malpractice revealed thatย malpractice has got to a cancerous level and is yet to receive appropriateย attention. Exam malpractice in the education sector actually graduates to the scandalisation of pupils during common entrance into unity schools and has become an all comerโs affair in private schools”.
Akwuruoha stated thatโthe brazen state of a culture of gross decay associated with ordinary level exams, the huge surge for admission regulated by the JAMB ranking role which overwhelms the system and manifests itself in the guise of admission sales traditionally termed decently as VC listโ.
โCharacter deficit demonstrated in a complex quasi interplay that involves desperate parents, schools, tutorial centers, JAMB staff (through direct involvement or negligence) and CBT Centers (private, public and JAMB model centers).
โThe strategic inclusion of JAMB is seen in the miraculous batching of candidates from same school in one session of exam. It is very important that these matters are overhauled in a deliberate attempt to proffer holistic solutions, especially as the nation is already on its mark and already moving to the next levelโ.
