Despite innovations, minor technical hitches experienced in 2023 UTME

The just concluded 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), a computer-based standardised examination into tertiary institutions by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has left many impressions.

While many candidates and parents were displeased following technical hitches experienced during the exercise, JAMB has adjudged the exam as one of the best in the history of conducting UTME following introduction of new innovations, which according to the board recorded low numbers of malpractice.

The board said 1,586,765 candidates registered for the 2023 UTME.

The conduct of the UTME started with the mock exams, which was aimed at providing the board with the opportunity to assess innovations that would be used for the main examination as well as allow candidates to have hands-on experiences on the CBT environment.

Before the mock exercise, the board had, in a statement, disclosed that it would be introducing some new measures that had never been used before and would want to use the opportunity of the mock exercise to assess their functionality.

“Despite the fact that the innovations have been tested and certified, yet it is not unlikely that some hiccups might spring up when the new technology is deployed live and nationwide. We therefore solicit your support and understanding as we promptly address any unforeseen circumstances. Hardly can there be growth without audacity and courage,’ the board said.

MOCK

During the exercise, which was conducted on 30th March, 2023, in 725 centres across the nation, a lot of hitches were experienced in many centres and as a result over 84,000 candidates out of the 176,408 registered candidates could not write the examination and thus lead to the board rescheduling them for a later date.

The examination was marred with challenges of the network, which eventually distorted the time and venue, thereby causing delay for many candidates in some centres.

A candidate, Mary Samson, whose examination was slated for 9 00am said she was not able to write by that time because the first batch, which was for 7.00am, was yet to write at about 10.00am when she spoke to our reporter.

– Darwin D. Martin