JAMB candidates berate technical failures during 2023 exams 

Just one day into the commencement of the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) some candidates have reportedly started experiencing technical lapses across the country.

The affected candidates and their parents, in an interview with NAN in Ibadan, Oyo state, appealed to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to as a matter of urgency into the technical glitches.

Jumoke Ajayi, one of the parents, explained that some of the candidates looked dejected as they trooped out of the exam hall.

According to her, the computers were malfunctioning as technical issues prevented the first set of candidates from accessing the examination and the majority of them went home crying.

“Some candidates scheduled for 6.30 a.m were still inside while those scheduled for other sessions as at 9.00 a.m and 12 noon were waiting.

“The candidates experienced the same problem during the mock examination. One would have thought that things should have been taken care of at this same centre, PEFTI CBT Centre, Sango.”

Idris Raji, one of the affected candidates, also lodged similar compliant, saying most of the laptops at the centre were not working effectively.

“I was one of the few lucky candidates who were able to access the examination, even at that, the system keeps prompting us to reconnect,” he said.

“This is a limiting factor as time was already going and this issue would not be considered by JAMB as it is not aware of what we were faced with here. We are really suffering as candidates.”

Ayobami Adeoyo, an official at PEFTI CBT, however, gave assurance affected candidates would would be given the opportunity to retake their papers.

“We had issues at the first session, but we are able to overcome them by God’s grace and those affected would be rescheduled. We have put down their names and this will not affect other sessions,” the official said.

In her reaction, Olajumoke Adeleke, JAMB zonal director in Ibadan, gave a contrary remark, maintaining that the exam was hitch free throughout the 39 centres in the state so far.

She furthered that the technical problems initially being experienced by candidates have been rectified.

“We have peaceful exercise, everything is calm, we thank God,” she noted.