JAMB introduces biometrics for candidates as UTME begins nationwide

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced Biometric Verification Machine (BVM) for its candidates, as this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) commenced yesterday.

This, the board said, was in a bid to check various forms of examination malpractice in the UTME.

No fewer than 1.8 million candidates registered for the examination across the country this year.

A JAMB official, in charge of the exercise, Akintayo Osuma, said the BVM would remain one of the best things to happen to the examination body, saying the verification exercise was biologically oriented and will reduce impersonation.

During a visit to some Computer Based Test (CBT) centres including JKK on Ikorodu road, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Brain Point College, WAEC International, Agidingbi, Ikeja, and Funlearn Mind Builders, Opebi, candidates expressed satisfaction with arrangements for the conduct of the examination.

Those scheduled for the first session at 7am defied the early morning rain so as not to miss their schedule.

At JKK centre, candidates queued to get accredited using the BVM, just as female candidates were asked to take off their earrings, while those wearing hijabs were also asked to remove them for screening.

They were also made to thumb print out at the biometric point before leaving the examination venue.

Some of the candidates commended JAMB and the CBT centres for putting necessary measures in place to ensure a smooth exercise.

Unlike previous examinations where logistics and poor network disrupted smooth conduct of the exercise, this year’s UTME recorded an improvement, as most CBT centres were well prepared.

The candidates also expressed satisfaction with the state of computers and back up equipment at the centres.

A candidate, Ufuoma Ugolo said, “I was nervous when I arrived my centre, but later calmed down when I realised that the examination was not as difficult as I thought.

Lagos zonal coordinator, Babatunde Bamisaye, expressed hope that the weeklong examination would be hitch-free in all 75 centres in the state.

“So far, the conduct has been hitch -free in most of the centres I have visited. Before now, I did a thorough combing of the centres to ensure that only the best are accredited for the examination. There has not been any cause for complaints,” he stated.

A total of 230 candidates are expected to sit for the examination per session.