Jane Salihu
Barely two days into the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), frustration and anxiety trailed the exercise in Abuja after a Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre failed to conduct a single examination due to persistent technical failures.
The disruption occurred at the Good Success CBT Centre in Utako, where candidates scheduled to sit for the examination on Thursday and Friday were unable to write their papers as a result of malfunctioning computer systems and network issues.
The development left dozens of candidates stranded at the centre for several hours, sparking tension and mild protests from parents and candidates who had gathered since early morning in anticipation of the examination.
Some candidates said they arrived at the centre as early as 6 a.m. only to be told later that the examination could not hold and would be rescheduled.
A candidate, Eunice Peter, expressed disappointment over the situation, explaining that many students had waited for hours without any clear information.
“We have been here since morning and many of the candidates are hungry because they asked us not to leave the premises. It has not been easy for the students who came prepared to write their exams,” she said.
On his part, a parent, who identified himself simply as David, said the development had placed unnecessary financial and emotional burden on families.
“Some parents paid as much as ₦6,000 to ₦10,000 for transport just to bring their children here. Now they are talking about relocating the candidates to another centre. Who will pay for them to travel again?” he asked.
David also questioned why the technical issues had not been addressed earlier.
“If they cannot conduct the electronic examination properly, they should provide an alternative like paper tests. The students deserve fairness,” he added.
The situation drew the attention of members of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education who were in Abuja on an oversight inspection of CBT centres following the commencement of the UTME nationwide.
Chairman of the committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse, apologised to the affected candidates and parents, describing the incident as unfortunate.
He said although the committee had observed encouraging progress in several centres visited, the challenges recorded at the Utako facility highlighted the need for urgent improvements.
“From what we have seen, there is progress in the conduct of the examination, but there are also technical challenges in some centres. These are issues that should be addressed before the examination begins,” Dandutse said.
He noted that oversight was part of the constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly and assured that the Senate would thoroughly review the matter.
“There is no justification for a candidate to travel from far away and remain in distress without writing the examination. As senators responsible for oversight, we will look into the activities of JAMB and ensure that these lapses are addressed,” he said.
Dandutse added that the committee had already directed that urgent action be taken to ensure that affected candidates are allowed to sit for their examinations as soon as possible.
“We have instructed the relevant authorities to take definitive action so that the students can write their exams. We will also review the entire process to ensure such incidents do not occur again,” he said.
Responding to the development, the Public Communication Adviser of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Fabian Benjamin, attributed the disruption to unforeseen technical challenges but assured that affected candidates would not be disadvantaged.
According to him, the board has made arrangements to accommodate the candidates through its mop-up examination process.
Benjamin explained that the UTME is conducted across hundreds of centres nationwide and that occasional technical issues are being addressed as they arise.
Meanwhile, the Senate committee also visited other CBT centres in the Federal Capital Territory, including Ansar-Ud-Deen International School in Maitama and Government Secondary School, Zone 4, where the examination was observed to be progressing smoothly.
Despite the setback recorded in Utako, the lawmakers commended the general conduct of the examination in the centres visited and emphasised the need for stronger preparation, improved infrastructure and better technical support at CBT centres across the country.
They also encouraged parents and students to continue to embrace education, describing it as a critical tool for national development and national progress.
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