We may reduce duration of exams, says registrar

Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB) Registrar Prof. Is-haq Oloyede has said the agency may reduce the timeline for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) from three hours to two hours.

He said the question papers would be uploaded five minutes to the examinations to check malpractice.

The registrar, however, confirmed that about 300,000 candidates may sit for the mock UTME examinations on April 8, which will be used to test-run its new technology to make its examinations easier for students.

Oloyede unfolded the plans at a Strategic Planning retreat on Supervision and Evaluation of 2017 UTME examinations.

He said: “As for the 2017 UTME, it is likely we reduce the duration of the examinations. We are looking at two hours for the examinations instead of the present three-hour timeline. This is in line with international best practices.

“As for the candidates, for their age, the maximum time they can sit for examinations is two hours. Even in terms of international standard, for primary school pupils, the maximum time for examinations is between 45 minutes and one hour.”

The registrar said the “questions will be uploaded in about five minutes to the examinations” to check any leakage or malpractice.

He said JAMB has embraced new technology, which will make the UTME comfortable to write by students in privileged environment and those in rural areas.

He added: “On April 8, we are going to do the rehearsal of the technology through mock UTME, which we are going to conduct.

“From the general feedback on the adoption of the Computer-Based Test mode, we have noted the challenge of computer low level literacy of some candidates, especially with the phobia for the mouse. This has been responsible partly for the call by some people for reversal to the Paper and Pencil Test mode.

“To ensure equity and level playground for all candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the board has designed a system that will allow candidates use only eight (8) keys without the use of the mouse.

“All the candidates need to do is to press the letters A,B,C,D for responses (answer) to questions and keys 😛 = Previous question; N = Next question; S = Submit responses when candidate has finished examination and  R = Reverse (do not intend to go further to submit again).

Oloyede, who assure that JAMB will make a change with 2017 UTME, clarified that students awaiting results can sit for the UTME.

He added: “For the umpteenth time, I would want to use this opportunity to emphasize that awaiting result candidates are eligible to register and sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

“However, they would not be considered for admission on awaiting result status. The Board urges all candidates desirous of admission to upload their O’ level results on the Board’s portal the moment they receive them and before the commencement of admission exercise as their O’ level results would form a crucial part of their registration requirements.

“We are determined to make a change with this examination as we are aware of the strategic role our examination plays in deciding the direction of tertiary education in Nigeria. We appeal to you all to give us the required support.”