By Chika Nwachukwu
Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has emphasised that it does not select examination towns for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, or the optional mock examination.
JAMB, in a statement signed by its spokesperson yesterday, Dr Fabian Benjamin, stated that the clarification is particularly important as 90 percent of the available spaces for the optional mock exercise across the country have been filled, leaving only a few states with available slots.
The board stated that it has observed unusual preferences among candidates regarding their choice of examination towns, likely in an effort to participate in the optional mock examination.
“This notice aims to advise candidates against desperately selecting examination towns, only to later accuse the Board of assigning them to examination towns that are far from their residences, towns or states,” the statement said.
It added that the only states with remaining slots for the optional mock examination are Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe.
It urged candidates interested in taking the mock examination in these states to select their examination towns accordingly.
“While candidates have the right to choose their preferred examination town, JAMB urges them to consider the implications of their choices. Some candidates may select towns that are quite distant, potentially outside their home state. The board should not be held responsible for such decisions.
“It allocates mock examination spaces for candidates to select based on the availability of centres, and once a town’s capacity is reached, it will no longer be available for selection.
“The board does not want to be overstressed, as the mock examination is only meant to give deserving candidates the opportunity to experience the CBT environment and enable the board test its facilities.
“Candidates are encouraged to choose their examination towns consciously with travel logistics and convenience in mind, ensuring a smoother experience on examination day,” the statement said.
