JAMB: Group calls for suspension of Computer Based Test, wants Oloyede sacked

- The controversy surrounding the recently held Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is still on 

- JAMB registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, is at the center of the storm 

- A group has called for the sack of Professor Oloyede as a result of a fall-out from the exams.

A group, African Community Impact and Development Network (Afri-CID) has called for the suspension of Computer Based Test (CBT) in JAMB examinations till further notice, citing some anomalies, which undermines the plus of the exercise.

The group which staged a protest in Abuja on Thursday, July 20, claimed that an investigation it carried out on the 2017 exercise showed that the CBT was a complete failure given several complains and difficulties faced by candidates. Speaking to journalists during the protest, the group's executive director, Lawrence Audu, alleged there was variance in the PINs generated from banks and those sent to candidates via emails. 

He bemoaned the failure of some banks to generate PINs for candidates while advising them to wait for an email which they alleged was never received. He added that in some cases, some students were completely disenfranchised from the exercise, while some candidates did not even receive their result confirmation at the end of the exercise. He also said that the inadequacy of CBT centers in most states, slow speed of internet services at the centers coupled with the level of computer literacy in the country were issues that needed to be addressed before embarking on such transition.

The protesters demanded for the resignation of the JAMB registrar. Photo credit: Jeremy Emmanson 

He bemoaned the failure of some banks to generate PINs for candidates while advising them to wait for an email which they alleged was never received. He added that in some cases, some students were completely disenfranchised from the exercise, while some candidates did not even receive their result confirmation at the end of the exercise. He also said that the inadequacy of CBT centers in most states, slow speed of internet services at the centers coupled with the level of computer literacy in the country were issues that needed to be addressed before embarking on such transition. Audu speaking to journalists during the protest. Photo credit: Jeremy Emmanson “We pass a vote of no confidence in Professor Oloyede for this demonstration of gross incompetence which has led to this abysmal failure of his organisation to conduct a credible exercise and call for his resignation with immediate effect. “We call on the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to as a matter of urgency suspend the Computer Based Test and sustain his efforts at improving the educational system and promote further the appreciation of computers in our schools,” he said. 

JAMB’s head of public relations, Fabian Benjamin, on Sunday, July 15, said the money was saved through the transparent and judicious use of resources. Benjamin also said JAMB has designed a software known as Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), where human interference will be completely removed, to promote credibility.