By Ruth Oketunde
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says candidates who participated in the just concluded 2020 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) can now print their result notification slips.
JAMB disclosed this in its weekly bulletin made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
The results which had earlier been made available to candidates can now be printed free from the board’s website: www.jamb.gov.ng.
“All a candidate needs to do after visiting the site is to click on QUICK LINKS, then on `E-Facility’ where the candidate would be required to provide his or her registration details and the result notification slip would be displayed for printing.
“The printing of the result notification slip is free as it is different from the original result slip that comes with the candidate’s picture.
“Candidates can print their result notification slip anywhere in the country even from the comfort of their homes once there is internet access.’’
According to the examination body, it has, until now, restricted the printing of result notification slips.
It was made available to candidates only through SMS to avoid anxiety on the part of candidates as well as prevent clustering at cybercafés with the attendant risk of COVID-19 contagion all in a bid to print result notifications.
“This new development, however, is predicated on the gradual easing of the lockdown and resumption of economic activities in most parts of the country.
“The board wishes to advise candidates to be wary of fraudulent elements masquerading as JAMB agents stating that it has not mandated any person or group to do the printing on behalf of the board.
“Candidates are to note also that delegating this responsibility to third parties could result in wilful manipulation of their results.
“Recalls that last year some candidates who abused this privilege by attempting to manipulate their scores were caught and are currently saving various jail terms,’’ JAMB said.
The board further advised candidates to note that any attempt to forge the slip would attract stiff sanctions.
It added that the decentralisation of printing of result notification slips was done mainly to comply with the directives of the NCDC and other relevant agencies on social distancing.
“It is against this background that the board is urging candidates to note that it is incumbent on them to adhere to other precautionary health measures such as wearing of face masks, washing of hands, among others, in order to mitigate the spread of the virus,’’ JAMB added.
Meanwhile the exam body has scheduled the 2020 Policy Meeting of tertiary institutions for June 16, 2020.
JAMB disclosed this in its weekly bulletin on Monday in Abuja.
According to JAMB, the policy meeting is to be chaired by the Minister of Education with all Heads of Tertiary Institutions in attendance.
JAMB added that the 2020 policy meeting is peculiar as it will go down history as the first that will hold online owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It would be recalled that part of the protocols put in place by government to curb the spread of COVID-19 requires that no gathering of persons exceeds prescribed number.
“Compliance with this directive has become imperative as no fewer than 4000 Heads of Tertiary Institutions comprising Degree, Diploma, NCE and NID-awarding institutions and other stakeholders would normally be expected to congregate at a location but because of extant protocols, would now be expected to participate in the virtual meeting.
“The modalities for the meeting would entail the board issuing only one access code to each participating institution to join the meeting. This access code is not to be shared or given to unauthorised persons.
“However, other critical stakeholders within the institutions like the Registrars, Admissions Officers can cluster around a big screen in a location to attend the meeting using the unique access code,” the exam body said.
JAMB further noted that the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, would preside over the meeting with other stakeholders and top functionaries in the ministry joining in from their operational points.
It added that heads of regulatory agencies and other critical stakeholders like chairmen of committees on Education at the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly were also expected to join the meeting.
“The meeting will discuss critical issues bordering on the advances made in the educational sector in the last one year in addition to setting the tone for the 2020/2021 Admission exercise.
“The meeting will also chart policy directions for the nation’s tertiary institutions, set admission guidelines and make a holistic review of application statistics, performance as well as evaluate the 2019 admissions exercise.
“The meeting, in addition to other deliberations, would take a stand on concessional and acceptable minimum admissions standards to be applied in all admissions to be undertaken by all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
“The meeting would be streamed live on the Board’s website; www.jamb.gov.ng, its face book, JAMBulletin and other social media platforms,” the exam body said. (NAN)