JAMB Announces Mop-Up UTME for Candidates Who Missed Initial Exams
Special Examination to Accommodate 5.6% of Absent Candidates
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced plans to conduct additional mop-up examinations for candidates who missed their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The board revealed that approximately 5.6% of registered candidates were absent during the initial examination period.
Inclusive Approach for All Affected Candidates
Professor Is-haq Oloyede, JAMB Registrar, disclosed that the special mop-up exercise will be extended to all affected candidates regardless of their reasons for missing the initial exams. This decision was announced during a stakeholder meeting in Abuja addressing challenges encountered during the 2025 UTME administration.
Registrar Addresses Examination Challenges
Oloyede acknowledged the emotional difficulties surrounding the announcement of UTME results but emphasized that these challenges don’t reflect institutional weakness. He strongly rejected suggestions that administrative issues stemmed from incompetence or ethnic bias within the board.
“I want to say this clearly, particularly because I accepted responsibility, not because I do not know how to do the work. People that work with me have testified to the fact that I do not care where you come from,” Oloyede stated.
Commitment to Fairness and Equal Opportunity
The Registrar urged stakeholders to avoid ethnic profiling in education matters and criticized those exploiting difficulties to promote divisive narratives. He maintained that JAMB operates without discrimination based on background or ethnicity.
Understanding the UTME’s Purpose
Oloyede clarified misconceptions about the UTME, explaining that it serves as a placement test rather than an achievement test. He emphasized that high UTME scores alone don’t guarantee admission, as combined performance including post-UTME scores and school assessments significantly impact candidate rankings.
Practical Considerations Behind Mop-Up Decision
The Registrar detailed the logistical challenges that influenced the mop-up decision:
- Limited availability of suitable examination venues
- Need to prevent permanent disadvantage to affected candidates
- High attendance rate (95%) during initial exams
Oloyede commended candidates who persevered through various challenges to complete their exams, while assuring that the board remains committed to resolving all examination-related issues fairly.
Full credit to the original publisher: Daily Trust