This
year’s multiple choice computer-based Unified Tertiary Matriculation
Examination (UTME), has some features that are different from previous ones.
The biometric capturing system according to the Registrar of Joint Admissions
and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Is-haq Oloyede, was done in such a
way that all candidates were authenticated for the examination.
He said the
fingerprint images of all the 10 fingers of each candidate were taken not
thumbs as obtainable in the past. He said in the past dubious candidates
deliberately avoided thumb image capturing or distort them and on examination
day, they were exempted from data authentication; the implication was that
others could write the examination for such candidates.
“This
year the images of all the 10 fingers were taken and if one fails during
authentication others may not. No one will bypass the system.” he said.
A
mock UTME was also organised free of charge for candidates to make them
familiar with examination and reduce stress and to identify technical
challenges with a view to correcting them, the registrar said.
The
use of scratch card was cancelled this year and in return candidates paid the
N5, 500 examination fees into Treasury Single Account (TSA). The registrar said
the board realized that so much money was wasted during previous examinations
and with about half of what candidates used to pay or thereabout, the
examination would be done contentedly and welfare of examination officials
improved. When asked whether or not the examination fee per candidate would be
reduced, he said, “If the Federal Government asked us to reduce the money, we
have no option than to comply.”
Few
days to the examination, civil defence operatives in Abuja uncovered a plan by
hackers to gain access into the board’s virtual private network (VPN). A total
of seven suspects including a couple were arrested in connection to the crime.
A
senior JAMB official was attacked by unknown gunmen in his residence in Bwari,
Abuja and was shot in the head. A source said though the official was lucky to
have escaped with minor injuries, three laptops containing vital UTME data were
carted away.
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