It is not new that so many things are not right with the mode of operation of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Few years ago, we saw how many students couldn’t do well as a result of faulty computer systems at JAMB designated examination centres. These students were at the receiving end. They failed and had to enroll the following year for the JAMB examination.
This year 2021, JAMB threw another unexpected blow with their so called grouping.
For instance, let me talk about Ondo West Local Government. Thousands of students didn’t write JAMB Examination on Saturday, 19th June, 2021 because of this problematic grouping. Students who chose Ondo City as their preferred centre were posted to Ese Odo – a distance of about four hours drive away from Ondo City, the candidates’ hometown. What a terrible arrangement!
Below is the Grouping for Ondo City:
Ondo/Ore/Agadagba (Ese Odo)/Okitipupa/Ile-Oluji in Ondo
The normal JAMB policy had been that if a town/city is filled up, students will be assigned to the nearest town/city.
The question is, Is Ese Odo or Okitipupa nearest town/city to Ondo City?
It is certain that this abnormal arrangement is done same way nationwide not minding the challenges identified with insecurity in the country.
You don’t stay in Abuja to decide these young people’s fate and shatter their dream in the name of examination grouping. Why should a student have to travel as far as 3hrs to 5hrs for JAMB examination with the spate of kidnapping and banditry across the nation? How about the risk of accident too?
As I speak, what’s the fate of these thousands of students who would not write the year 2021 JAMB examination as a result of the insensitivity and negligence of the examination Board. They would all wait till next year for another opportunity to sit for same examination.
It is high time the JAMB grouping system stopped. It is obsolete and incongruous with the current realities in our nation.
The federal government needs to intervene and call the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede to order. JAMB activities need to be monitored because students are the ones at the receiving end.
Also, it is advised that the Board be consider a make-up examination for those candidates who might have missed the year 2021 JAMB examination and they should be allowed to write the examination in their chosen examination town/city.
Yinka Fadayomi writes from Akure, the Ondo state capital.
Study @ Achievers University
