JAMB Plans to Allow Candidates to Use Their Phones for UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced its intention to implement a new policy that would enable candidates to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the Direct Entry (DE) examination with their personal phones and other devices.

The JAMB registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, revealed this in Abuja on Saturday at the 2023 policy meeting on admissions to tertiary institutions. He said the policy, which falls under the “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) initiative, was aimed at reducing the cost of logistics in conducting the UTME nationwide.

According to him, JAMB spends over N1.2 billion to equip a Computer Based Test (CBT) centre in Kaduna state, especially in procuring computers that candidates use to take the examination. He said the BYOD policy would allow candidates to take the examinations on their mobile phones and other devices.

The Benefits and Challenges of BYOD

Oloyede said the BYOD policy would have some benefits and challenges for both candidates and JAMB. He said some of the benefits include:

• Lowering capital investment for JAMB and CBT centres
• Increasing access and convenience for candidates
• Enhancing security and transparency of the examination process

He also said some of the challenges include:

• Lack of digital literacy and skills among some candidates
• Need for adequate network coverage and internet connectivity
• Risk of examination malpractice and cybercrime

The Way Forward for BYOD

Oloyede said JAMB was working on addressing the challenges and ensuring a smooth implementation of the BYOD policy. He said some of the measures being taken include:

• Establishing a mobile examination malpractice tribunal to deal with the criminal aspect while institutions handle the misconduct
• Partnering with security operatives and relevant agencies on cybercrime
• Providing free access to photo images and fingerprint data of candidates to curb impersonation
• Adopting an open book examination to discourage cheating
• Seeking political will and concerted efforts at adopting a single identity for all citizens with NIMC

He also said JAMB would consult with stakeholders and conduct pilot tests before rolling out the BYOD policy.

At the policy meeting, Oloyede also expressed concern over the preference for university education among candidates at the expense of polytechnics and colleges of education. He advised candidates to explore other options within the tertiary education sector for admission.

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