JAMB Scraps CBT, Introduces 8-keys Device

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced on Wednesday that it will scrap the Computer Based Test (CBT) mode of conducting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) due to low computer literacy level of candidates.

Chairman of the board, Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, disclosed this at the opening ceremony of Strategic Planning Retreat on Monitoring and Supervision of 2017 UTME in Kaduna.

Professor Oloyede stated that the board would resolve to adopt an eight-keys device method as against the old paper and pencil mode.

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The JAMB boss said the eight-keys device would eradicate the challenge of computer illiteracy and phobia for mouse by some candidates.

He said: “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.

“In order to ensure equity and level playground for all candidates taking Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the Board has designed a system that will allow candidates use only eight keys without the use of mouse.

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“All the candidates need to do is to press the letters A,B,C,D for responses to questions and keys: P, N, S and R representing; previous question, next question, submit and reverse, respectively.”

Oloyede further noted that the board in collaboration with a private institute resolved to set up dedicated UTME centres for visually impaired candidates in Abuja, Lagos and Kano in 2018.

He noted that all prospective blind candidates would be invited to three centres in the country for special assessment in their subjects of choice and relevance to their desired courses and programmes.

According to him, the board reached an agreement with the Association for the Blind Persons in Nigeria and blind students in Lagos.

The JAMB boss said: “An abridged approach would be used whereby all prospective blind candidates would be invited to three centres in the country for special assessment in their subjects of choice and relevance to their desired courses.

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“It is not enough for Politically Exposed Persons (PEP) to visit examination centres with sirens and large entourage of government functionaries with very little impact to show for their participation, other than to be under television camera lights and beamed same to the whole world, yet, the outcome of the examination is laced with stories of examination malpractice.

“This time around, the major players with requisite integrity, intelligence and appropriate knowledge of the assessment would be fully engaged to actively participate in the supervision of the examination.”

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