An array of principal players in the education sector and other supporting disciplines such as the media and paramilitary stood up to be counted as all joined hands to serve as monitors, observers, proctors, biometrists etc at this year’s JAMB UTME examination for all intending university entrants.
The bigwigs in the education sector cut across university teachers and vice chancellors and ex ministers, all in the field to supervise and ensure transparency in the conduct of the exams.
At random, VerityNewsOnline.com observed quiet a number of university administrators too.
On two occasions, our team comprising of the former Minister of Education, Professor Chinwe Obaji ran into former Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Prof Shamsudeen Amali and some media administrators and journalists.
In most of the centres visited viz GSS, Apo; GSS, Tudun Wada in Zone 4, SASCOM Maitama, the exams were largely hitch free.
The resident monitor at GSS Tudun Wada said they did encounter some challenges that bordered on infrastructure and computer facilities, some of which she called IP conflict and keyboard, lighting and AC problems. She said, going forward, the mock exams should serve to determine the readiness of some centres even as she emphasized the need for JAMB to do a proper checklist of the centres.
However, at GSS, Garki, the centre was in disarray as candidates were seen in clusters bemoaning their plight as they were unable to write their papers due to technical faults of the laptops in use. As a result, while the first set was haphazard, the second and third sets could not not hold.
Professor Obaji appealed to the candidates to excersise patience, while she put a call through to the JAMB authorities. The candidates’ problem, she assured would be rectified by Sunday or Monday.
The examinations continue on Monday