The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has assured candidates affected by technical disruptions during the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) that they will be rescheduled for new exam dates and centres.
The board said the measure is aimed at ensuring that no registered candidate is denied the opportunity to sit for the nationwide examination.
JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, gave the assurance in Abuja while addressing concerns raised during an oversight visit by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund.
The concerns followed reports of technical failures at some Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, including the Good Success CBT Centre in Utako, Abuja.
Benjamin acknowledged that minor operational challenges were expected given the scale of the UTME, which is being conducted across hundreds of centres nationwide.
He emphasized that JAMB had put in place mechanisms to quickly resolve such issues and minimize disruption to candidates.
According to him, only a small number of centres out of the 957 accredited CBT centres experienced technical problems.
He added that affected candidates would be reassigned promptly, while a mop-up examination would also be organised for those unable to take the test due to system failures.
Benjamin stressed that the mop-up exercise is part of the board’s commitment to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all candidates.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Mohammed Dandutse, acknowledged improvements in the conduct of the examination but noted that technical challenges persist.
He said the committee would strengthen its oversight role to ensure that JAMB addresses the issues and prevents future disruptions.
Dandutse also called for immediate corrective actions, stressing that candidates should not suffer unnecessary stress, especially those who travelled long distances to examination centres.
He assured that the National Assembly would review JAMB’s operations to improve efficiency across CBT centres nationwide.
However, some parents and candidates expressed frustration over repeated delays caused by technical failures.
A parent, Mr David Afolayan, said his daughter was unable to sit for the exam after visiting the centre on two separate days due to network issues.
Similarly, a candidate, Eunice Peter, who travelled from Kaduna State, lamented the financial burden of transportation and accommodation after missing her exam twice.
She urged authorities to improve logistics and infrastructure to reduce the hardship faced by candidates.
The UTME, which began earlier in the week, continues across accredited centres nationwide as JAMB works to resolve emerging challenges.
