Three individuals including a candidate, a graduate and a computer- based examination centre operator have been arrested in Abuja by security operatives over alleged examination malpractices in the on-going Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Those arrested, according to the Director of Press of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Dr. Fabian Benjamin, were discovered in the build-up to the examinations, which commenced across the country on Saturday with no fewer than 57, 000 candidates taking part.
According to Benjamin, a candidate, a graduate and a CBT owner were arrested for planning to super impose two fingers of the graduate over eight fingers of the candidate ahead of the exam.
Meanwhile, some candidates sitting for the examination in Lagos have criticised JAMB over what they described as frustrating conditions under which the examination held in their centres.
Those who sat for the exam at Southfield Children Academy, located on 72, Olorunkemi, Street, Bariga, Lagos, said poor internet facility, power failure and the deployment of substandard computers, have hampered the successful conduct of the examination in their centre.
One of the parents, identified simply as Mr. Asaju, who had accompanied her daughter to the centre expressed frustration, saying the examination body was unfair to the candidates.
Asajui, who is a lecturer at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), said the results that would be generated from such exam can never reveal the true ability of the candidates.
At the International Office of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) on Agidingbi Road, Ikeja, examination supervisors had to delay the start-off for one hour so as to accommodate late arrival of some of the candidates.
A security guard at the examination venue explained that the supervisors thought it wise to delay the take-off for one hour so as to accommodate some of the candidates who arrived late for the examination.
But it was a seamless experience in other places where the examination took place. At the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) candidates expressed satisfaction with the arrangements put in place.
However, addressing newsmen at the Digital Bridge Institute in Abuja, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, noted that the examination was starting off with two sessions rather than three, to allow the centres cover for any contingencies. He explained that unlike the first day, subsequent days will cover three sessions to enable more candidates sit for the examination.
According to him, the examination started late in few centres including the Digital Bridge Institute centre, where the first session started at about 8 am, an hour behind schedule
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