JAMB CBT: Reps Order Suspension Of e-Test, Summons Education Minister, JAMB Registrar

HOR LOGOThe Minister of Education Professor Rukayyatu Rufai was yesterday summoned to appear before the House of Representatives over the planned conduct of  computer based test for the 2013 unified tertiary matriculation examination by the Joint Admission Matriculation and Examination Board (JAMB).

Adopting a motion on matters of urgent public importance sponsored by Rep. Ali Madaki (PDP, Kano), the House directed the education ministry and JAMB to immediately suspend the computer based test slated for April this year and revert back to the use of pre-existing centres and the new secondary schools constructed by various arms of government so as to allow for more time to equip these schools with necessary infrastructure to conduct computer-based tests.
The House also summoned Rukayyatu and the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde to appear before the House committee on education to among other things explain the “reason behind the policy somersault that led to change in takes off of the policy from 2015 to 2013; the law that empowers JAMB to contract out the conduct of examination to private firms? And who are these firms?”
In his motion, Rep. Madaki questioned the sudden shift in date by JAMB from 2015 as the terminal year to end its paper and pencil based examination as stated by the minister in November 2012 “to start computer based test on 27th April 2013.”
He argued that “the vexed question is how many secondary schools are equipped with computers.” Alarmed there is no clear cut modus operandi for the computer based test method because “JAMB itself lacks the competence and facilities to conduct the examinations,”.
According to him, “the ripple effect has led to massive reduction of examination centres despite increase in schools, closure of several registration centres in states like Bauchi, Bayelsa, Kano, Benue, Cross  Rivers, FCT, Kaduna, Katsina thereby leading to the disefranchisement of many candidates that would have taken the exams.”

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