Reps Ask FG to Halt CBT for UTME

The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to suspend the planned commencement of computer-based test for the 2013 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations ( UTME).

The House also invited Prof. Rukayyatu Rufa’I, minister of Education, and Prof Dibu Ojerinde, registrar, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), to appear before the House Committee on Education to explain the reason behind the policy.

They are to explain what the lawmakers described as “policy somersault” over the computer-based training (CBT) adopted by JAMB as well as the law through which they derived the powers to contract out the conduct of examinations to private firms.

The House also directed the JAMB to suspend its newly introduced CBT for the examination scheduled for Saturday, April 27, and revert to its paper and pencil-based examinations.

This resolution emanated from a motion moved by Rep. Aliyu Madaki ( PDP-Kano), which was unanimously adopted without debate.

According to Madaki, JAMB has fixed the year 2015 as the terminal date to end its paper and pencil based examination.

He said that JAMB had resolved to adopt the computer based test method for the JAMB UTME 2013 slated for April 27.

Madaki noted that the UTME organised and conducted by JAMB had been characterised with controversies.

The legislator said that there was no adequate sensitisation and preparation for the policy to commence before the planned date of 2015.

“There was no clear cut modus operandi for the computer-based test method because JAMB itself lacked the competence and facilities to conduct the examinations,” he said.

He said that the selection of the private firms was not advertised and no bidding was done as required by the public procurement Act.