The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says it would prosecute thirty four prospective candidates, and staff of six computer based test centres, who connived for the purpose of examination malpractice.
JAMB registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede made the disclosure, when he visited Kano to monitor the ongoing UTME Registration exercise.
According to him, the UTME candidates who were registering for the joint admission and marticulation examination, allegedly allowed the CBT centre staff to thumbprint forms for them.
Professor Oloyede explained that, the 34 students found conniving with the suspects would not be allowed to sit for the examination this year, and if they do by any means their papers would be cancelled.
The registrar pointed out that, he would ensure that those arrested were prosecuted, saying that malpractice begins at the point of registration.
He maintained that, one of those apprehended includes a level 5 Law student, who thumb printed for 14 prospective candidates that plan to sit for the examination.
“Another candidate at the same centre was also caught thumbprinting for 14 students while a third suspect registered for six students”
The Register said, the law stipulates that, students must thumbprint by themselves, using their ten fingers when registering for the UTME and where a candidate has problems with some of the fingers, the official registering him will simply indicate the finger as “Bad”.
He said, the board had also uncovered a similar case in Abuja, where somebody doing the UTME registration exercise wanted to impersonate a female student, but she refused and reported to them, where they quickly discovered the place and dealt with the suspect.
“This is what they are doing to enjoy extra gains from the students that is why we commenced this supervision across Nigeria to arrest the ugly situation by punishing anybody found wanting”
Professor Oloyede hinted that, the board has no problems with its staff and CBT centres but that the problems are with the private CBT centres, who have written an indemnity with the board to do the right thing.
He charged students to desist from allowing anyone to thumbprint their forms, which may lead to examination cancellation and prosecution.
KHADIJAH ALIYU