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| Candidates at a CBT centre |
2019 UTME: JAMB outsmarts fraudulent
candidates
candidates
2019 UTME: JAMB outsmarts fraudulent
candidates
candidates
Despites sharp practices by some
candidates and CBT centres, JAMB was able to conduct the 2019 UTME and give
valid and reliable results in its admission processes. UJI ABDUALLHI ILIYASU
examines some of these practices.
candidates and CBT centres, JAMB was able to conduct the 2019 UTME and give
valid and reliable results in its admission processes. UJI ABDUALLHI ILIYASU
examines some of these practices.
Multiple
finger prints
finger prints
Registrar, Joint Admissions and
Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is’haq Oloyede was reported to have broken down in tears in
Abuja when he announced the release of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination (UTME).
Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is’haq Oloyede was reported to have broken down in tears in
Abuja when he announced the release of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination (UTME).
Oloyede was in tears when he
discovered attempted fraud in the UTME during scrutiny of the examination
centres.
discovered attempted fraud in the UTME during scrutiny of the examination
centres.
He expressed shock at the extent some
candidates went to perfect their cheating in the examination.
candidates went to perfect their cheating in the examination.
Oloyede told journalists in Abuja
that JAMB identified a large number of impersonators that specialised in taking
UTME for candidates, including most of the tutorial masters that also
specialised in recruiting mercenaries for their candidates. He said they used names
directly or variants of the name or multiple registrations.
that JAMB identified a large number of impersonators that specialised in taking
UTME for candidates, including most of the tutorial masters that also
specialised in recruiting mercenaries for their candidates. He said they used names
directly or variants of the name or multiple registrations.
In Anambra state, two centres
registered large number of impersonating candidates and that led to the
cancellation of the results and the CBT centres delisted.
registered large number of impersonating candidates and that led to the
cancellation of the results and the CBT centres delisted.
“We also tracked the registration
centres and the computers used, Oloyede said, adding that “another dimension of
impersonation was a futile attempt of defeating the biometric capturing of ten
fingers that was introduced in 2017. The fraudsters thought they could beat the
system through ‘contributed fingers’, where two or more persons would use their
fingers to register for candidates, thinking that any of them would be able to
write for such candidates if the system allowed it.
centres and the computers used, Oloyede said, adding that “another dimension of
impersonation was a futile attempt of defeating the biometric capturing of ten
fingers that was introduced in 2017. The fraudsters thought they could beat the
system through ‘contributed fingers’, where two or more persons would use their
fingers to register for candidates, thinking that any of them would be able to
write for such candidates if the system allowed it.
“Another examples were in Aminu Saleh
College of Education, Azare, where someone’s fingerprint was discovered in 42
persons’ registration, and in Bauchi State University, Gadau, where one
person’s fingerprint was traced to the registration of 64 candidates with a
view to allowing any of the finger-contributing impersonators to access the
examination hall.”
College of Education, Azare, where someone’s fingerprint was discovered in 42
persons’ registration, and in Bauchi State University, Gadau, where one
person’s fingerprint was traced to the registration of 64 candidates with a
view to allowing any of the finger-contributing impersonators to access the
examination hall.”
He said the board went to the extent
of interacting with the principal officers of the institution in Azare, and “we
appreciated the council chairman and provost of the college whose cooperation
led to the confession of the culprit that he contributed fingers in good
faith.”
of interacting with the principal officers of the institution in Azare, and “we
appreciated the council chairman and provost of the college whose cooperation
led to the confession of the culprit that he contributed fingers in good
faith.”
He said the confession, as bad as it
was, was good for the board because without it, there would have been doubts
about the accuracy of the technology deployed to determine and detect the infraction.
was, was good for the board because without it, there would have been doubts
about the accuracy of the technology deployed to determine and detect the infraction.
He highlighted another case in Borno
state where, in Nassara Computer Academy, Maiduguri, 233 candidates had one
particular finger included in each of their biometric registration.
state where, in Nassara Computer Academy, Maiduguri, 233 candidates had one
particular finger included in each of their biometric registration.
He said that JAMB has made arrests
through the effort of Special Task Force set up by Force Intelligence Bureau
(FIB), which assisted JAMB tremendously in tracking the offenders.
through the effort of Special Task Force set up by Force Intelligence Bureau
(FIB), which assisted JAMB tremendously in tracking the offenders.
Scores
upgrade
upgrade
JAMB last week arrested one Adah
Eche, a 19-year-old admission seeker who allegedly falsified his Unified
Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result.
Eche, a 19-year-old admission seeker who allegedly falsified his Unified
Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result.
Professor Is’haq Oloyede paraded the suspect
before newsmen at the board’s Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja.
before newsmen at the board’s Headquarters in Bwari, Abuja.
Oloyede said that the suspect, who sat for the
2019 UTME scored 153, but decided to connive with an examination syndicate who
allegedly increased his scores.
2019 UTME scored 153, but decided to connive with an examination syndicate who
allegedly increased his scores.
He explained that the suspect was
apprehended after a delegation of Public Complaints Commission paid the board a
visit following various complaints by aggrieved candidates who sat for the 2019
UTME.
apprehended after a delegation of Public Complaints Commission paid the board a
visit following various complaints by aggrieved candidates who sat for the 2019
UTME.
“We decided to pick three out of the
complainants to address their issues and he happened to be the first person we
picked and he actually wrote a letter of complaint to us knowing full well that
he faked his result.
complainants to address their issues and he happened to be the first person we
picked and he actually wrote a letter of complaint to us knowing full well that
he faked his result.
“What we did was invite him to come
and pick his admission letter and he came.
and pick his admission letter and he came.
“Now, what such people do not know is
that we have a barcode for every result which helps us verify its authenticity,
but this fake one has the barcode of a supermarket and was saying invalid
barcode on our own platform.
that we have a barcode for every result which helps us verify its authenticity,
but this fake one has the barcode of a supermarket and was saying invalid
barcode on our own platform.
“We checked our own platform and seen
where he had checked his result three consecutive times via 55019 and was
replied same with his original result which was 153, yet he insisted that he
did not know the one with 290 was fake,” he said.
where he had checked his result three consecutive times via 55019 and was
replied same with his original result which was 153, yet he insisted that he
did not know the one with 290 was fake,” he said.
Oloyede further explained that the
suspect confessed to the crime after many evidences were discovered from his
phone and another on his computer where he faked 200 score for himself first,
before upgrading it to 290.
suspect confessed to the crime after many evidences were discovered from his
phone and another on his computer where he faked 200 score for himself first,
before upgrading it to 290.
He also said that the fake result had
an imposed ‘55019’ as the sender of the result.
an imposed ‘55019’ as the sender of the result.
A trail of transactions where the
suspect collected money from others and sent to his counterpart for the upgrade
of UTME scores was discovered on a whatsapp platform on his phone.
suspect collected money from others and sent to his counterpart for the upgrade
of UTME scores was discovered on a whatsapp platform on his phone.
“These people do not know we have installed
features that help us track all these things that is why we insist that
aggrieved candidates should come to us with the proof and credentials and we
will sort this out, yet they refuse,” he said.
features that help us track all these things that is why we insist that
aggrieved candidates should come to us with the proof and credentials and we
will sort this out, yet they refuse,” he said.
The Registrar said that the board’s
website “www.jamb.org” had a platform where people could lodge in their
complaints and the board was working on a daily basis to ensure that the issues
were responded to at all cost.
website “www.jamb.org” had a platform where people could lodge in their
complaints and the board was working on a daily basis to ensure that the issues
were responded to at all cost.
The suspect, Adah Eche, who said that
he wrote his UTME at Veritas University Centre, Bwari, also said that he was
writing the examination for the first time.
he wrote his UTME at Veritas University Centre, Bwari, also said that he was
writing the examination for the first time.
”My advice to others is that they
should stop such illicit acts, there’s no such thing as JAMB upgrade,” Eche
said.
should stop such illicit acts, there’s no such thing as JAMB upgrade,” Eche
said.
2020 UTME
Registration
Registration
JAMB says starting from 2020,
candidates will register for its examinations with their National Identity
Management Number (NIM) to solve the challenges of multiple registration.
candidates will register for its examinations with their National Identity
Management Number (NIM) to solve the challenges of multiple registration.
JAMB’s head of media, Dr. Fabian
Benjamin, made this known at a one-day capacity building workshop organised by
the National Examinations Council (NECO) for education correspondents in Keffi,
Nasarawa recently.
Benjamin, made this known at a one-day capacity building workshop organised by
the National Examinations Council (NECO) for education correspondents in Keffi,
Nasarawa recently.
Benjamin, who spoke on the topic:
‘Understanding Reporting in the 21st Century’, said the development would be
facilitated through partnership with the National Identity Management Commission
(NIMC).
‘Understanding Reporting in the 21st Century’, said the development would be
facilitated through partnership with the National Identity Management Commission
(NIMC).
He said experience had shown that
malpractice in the conduct of public examinations, especially the UTME,
actually begins with registration.
malpractice in the conduct of public examinations, especially the UTME,
actually begins with registration.
“Four days ago, we cancelled results
of four candidates because of malpractices we discovered after the examination.
of four candidates because of malpractices we discovered after the examination.
“The board is on top of the situation
as it has the determination and technology in place to forestall attempts at
compromising the registration process.
as it has the determination and technology in place to forestall attempts at
compromising the registration process.
“An intrinsic part of the strategies
adopted by the board is ensuring that its registration period is kept very
short,” Benjamin said.
adopted by the board is ensuring that its registration period is kept very
short,” Benjamin said.
He said that the registration of
candidates would now take 30 days instead of a longer period to contain the
chances of fraudsters’ strategies to circumvent the process.
candidates would now take 30 days instead of a longer period to contain the
chances of fraudsters’ strategies to circumvent the process.
Benjamin also appealed to parents to
desist from encouraging their children to engage in examination malpractices.
desist from encouraging their children to engage in examination malpractices.
On biometric challenges, he said the
board had planned to ensure that by 2020 the issues of biometric problems in
the course of registration would be over.
board had planned to ensure that by 2020 the issues of biometric problems in
the course of registration would be over.
“In 2018, we had about 24,490
biometric challenges but we have been able to bring this down to 22 in 2019;
but if we are able to stand on our ground by 2020, we will not have any
biometric challenges,” he said.
biometric challenges but we have been able to bring this down to 22 in 2019;
but if we are able to stand on our ground by 2020, we will not have any
biometric challenges,” he said.
He added that no Computer Based Test
(CBT) centre would be used for the conduct of its examinations except those
centres whose administrators were the owners of the centres.
(CBT) centre would be used for the conduct of its examinations except those
centres whose administrators were the owners of the centres.
Speaking on the challenges of
impersonations in examination, Benjamin said multiple registrations, if not
checked, was an easy way to impersonate a candidate.
impersonations in examination, Benjamin said multiple registrations, if not
checked, was an easy way to impersonate a candidate.
He noted that the board, in
conforming to international best practices, would take care of people with
special needs through the ICT capacity building and empowerment programme.
conforming to international best practices, would take care of people with
special needs through the ICT capacity building and empowerment programme.
Verdicts on
2019 UTME
2019 UTME
Chairman, governing board, Joint
Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe, has described
the process and the conduct of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination (UTME) as credible.
Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr Emmanuel Ndukwe, has described
the process and the conduct of the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination (UTME) as credible.
Ndukwe’s appraisal was contained in
the board’s weekly bulletin (Vol. 1, No 26) made available to Blueprint.
the board’s weekly bulletin (Vol. 1, No 26) made available to Blueprint.
He commended JAMB on the exercise and
adjudged it the best in terms of administration and the level of technology
deployed, even as he commended Professor Oloyede and his management team for
delivering ‘credible and world-class assessment’.
adjudged it the best in terms of administration and the level of technology
deployed, even as he commended Professor Oloyede and his management team for
delivering ‘credible and world-class assessment’.
The board chairman said that the
delay in the release of results was deliberate, saying that it was meant to
ensure that candidates involved in examination malpractices did not escape with
fake results.
delay in the release of results was deliberate, saying that it was meant to
ensure that candidates involved in examination malpractices did not escape with
fake results.
“The 2019 UTME was a remarkable
exercise.
exercise.
“I moved round to monitor the
registration exercise across selected centres in the country with the view to
making sure that the policy of the federal government for creating access and
equal opportunity to all candidates was not subverted,” he said.
registration exercise across selected centres in the country with the view to
making sure that the policy of the federal government for creating access and
equal opportunity to all candidates was not subverted,” he said.
Ndukwe also said that the tour around
the CBT centres was to ensure strict compliance with the government’s
directives on the reduction of application and registration fees.
the CBT centres was to ensure strict compliance with the government’s
directives on the reduction of application and registration fees.
While describing the tour as
rewarding and revealing, he said it afforded the examination body to take
drastic measures against fraudulent centres, adding that the close monitoring
and supervision by the board had exposed criminal syndicates who were involved
in multiple registrations and other forms of infractions, which resulted in the
delay in the release of results. He
added that the thorough investigations carried out by the board led to the
apprehension, prosecution and conviction of some of the criminals, to serve as
deterrent to others.
rewarding and revealing, he said it afforded the examination body to take
drastic measures against fraudulent centres, adding that the close monitoring
and supervision by the board had exposed criminal syndicates who were involved
in multiple registrations and other forms of infractions, which resulted in the
delay in the release of results. He
added that the thorough investigations carried out by the board led to the
apprehension, prosecution and conviction of some of the criminals, to serve as
deterrent to others.
The chairman also expressed
satisfaction with the board’s complete change from analogue to digital and
sophisticated regimen.
satisfaction with the board’s complete change from analogue to digital and
sophisticated regimen.
He said he was satisfied with the
management of both human and material resources by the board, noting that JAMB
had, in the last three years, remitted over N20bn to the federal government’s
coffers.
management of both human and material resources by the board, noting that JAMB
had, in the last three years, remitted over N20bn to the federal government’s
coffers.
Ndukwe said that the Central
Admission Processing System (CAPS) of the examination was a beautiful
innovation that had been automated to help in the admission process.
Admission Processing System (CAPS) of the examination was a beautiful
innovation that had been automated to help in the admission process.
He advised heads of tertiary
institutions to ask pertinent questions, where necessary, on pending admissions
awaiting approval.
institutions to ask pertinent questions, where necessary, on pending admissions
awaiting approval.
The chairman assured Nigerians that
the registrar would continue to monitor the entire admission process to ensure
that the system was not compromised in anyway.
the registrar would continue to monitor the entire admission process to ensure
that the system was not compromised in anyway.