As the 2024 UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) approaches, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed the arrest of parents found loitering near UTME CBT centres.

During a virtual briefing with Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre owners on April 17th, 2024, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, highlighted the imperative to eliminate parental interference during the examination.

Prof. Oloyede addressed previous disruptions caused by parental intrusion and instructed CBT centre owners to take decisive action against any parents found near their premises during the UTME. Violating parents risk arrest, and their children may be disqualified from the exam.

This directive follows revelations that some parents, under the guise of facilitators, have engaged in exam malpractice, while others have disrupted exams in the past. To ensure compliance, security personnel will collaborate closely with CBT centres to apprehend interfering parents.

Emphasising that UTME candidates must be at least 17 years old, Prof. Oloyede cited instances where parents tried to sneak underage candidates into exam halls to influence officials. Such actions, he warned, would result in severe penalties.

Candidates were also advised to protect their personal information to avoid exploitation by fraudulent websites. Involvement with such sites could lead to prosecution.

Despite meticulous preparations for the 2024 UTME across over 700 CBT centres nationwide, Prof. Oloyede cautioned about potential technical hitches. In case of disruptions, affected candidates will be rescheduled, while those causing disturbances risk disqualification.

Appealing to CBT centre owners to see their role as a national duty rather than solely profit-driven, Prof. Oloyede urged them to expose any unethical behaviours within their establishments.

He expressed regret over the suspension of Direct Entry candidate registration due to fraudulent activities by certain centres, stressing the importance of integrity.

Addressing concerns about attempts by CBT centres to compromise JAMB staff, Prof. Oloyede advocated for transparency and cautioned against any form of inducement. The implementation of advanced technologies aims to deter violations and uphold the examination process’s integrity.

In conclusion, Prof. Oloyede reassured stakeholders of JAMB’s unwavering commitment to a fair and transparent UTME, leveraging modern tools to maintain standards and combat malpractice.