…Power, internet services, lateness mar exams in Lagos, smooth in Kogi

Faulty electrical generators and poor internet services as well as lateness of candidates marred the smooth take-off of 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) in some parts of Lagos State.

Daily Trust on Sunday correspondent who monitored the examination in some of the accredited centres observed that while it was a smooth for some of the candidates, it was unpleasant for others.

The candidates who wrote the examination at the Shom International School in Ikotun area were delayed for more than one hour when the electrical generator supplying power to the examination halls developed faults.

Also, poor internet services and faulty computers hampered candidates to perform effectively for about two hours at the Southfield Children Academy Olorunkemi Street, Ladylac area, Bariga, Lagos.

Some of the candidates who shared their experiences lamented how the computer system suddenly packed up while the in some cases, the internet services simply went bad. The situation was however rectified later.

At the International Office of West African Examination Council, (WAEC), Agidingbi Road, Ikeja, examination supervisors had to delay the start for one hour so as to accommodate late arrival of some of the candidates.

A security guard at the venue explained that the supervisors thought it wise to delay the take-off for one hour so as to accommodate some of the candidates.

However, it was a seamless in other places where the examination took place. For instance at Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) and Ikeoluwa Comprehensive College, Abaranje, candidates expressed satisfaction with the arrangements put in place.

Meanwhile, the exam was hitch-free in many designated centres in Kogi State.

Our correspondent who visited some of the centres in Lokoja, the state capital observed that the examination went on smoothly.

At the Federal University Lokoja, (FUL) examination centre, a candidate, Gabriel Shaibu, told Daily Trust on Sunday that he did not encounter problems with the computer systems throughout the exam which lasted two hours.

On her part, Paul Faith noted that the examinations went without hitches.

A JAMB official, Mrs Folashade Lawal, expressed delight with the smooth take off of the examination, adding that an initial technical challenge at the centre was promptly rectified.