The Unified Matriculation Examination (UTME) in EKiti State University (EKSU) centre, Ado-Ekiti, has been postponed indefinitely following a faulty biometric machine.
The exercise monitored by PMParrot correspondent across the 12 centres in the state revealed that the development left some of the first batch of the candidates scheduled to start their examination by 7:00 a.m stranded.
It was further revealed that the development created altercation between the officials monitoring the exercise and some aggrieved parents of the candidates.
Some of the parents who spoke under anonymity told our correspondent that they had arrived the state a day earlier with their children and were at the centre as early as 6:00 a.m only to be confronted with the biometric issue.
The parents, who expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the examination at the centre lamented that the security situation in the country forced them to accompany their children to the centre for their examination.
A candidate who preferred not to be named expressed disappointment with the indefinite rescheduling of the examination.
He stated that the situation was compounded by the fact that some of the candidates are expected to commence their West Africa School Certificate Examination (WASCE) in few days’ time.
PMParrot reports that the second batch of candidates in the centre were later cleared through the biometric to undertake their examinations around 1:00 p.m.
The clearance, according to Mrs Smaranda Olarinde, was made possible after frantic efforts by the board’s technical personnel through communication with their counterparts at the Headquarter.
Olarinde, while addressing the affected candidates, stated that their examination has been rescheduled while urging them to always check their profile portals for information on the new date for the examination.
“Please we have been working round the clock to ensure that the technical problem is resolved but as it is now your examination will be rescheduled.
“The second batch candidates are already in the hall and follow by the third batch, so I want to implore you to be patient and always check on your profile portals from now on for development on the examination,” she said.
Speaking, Alhaji Akeem Alaaya, the Ekiti State JAMB Coordinator, said the exercise had significant improvement over the previous ones.
“In a situation where you have only two to three candidates absent out of 200 candidates in a centre, I think there is improvement compared to previous exercises where you normally witnessed over 20 candidates being absent in a centre.
Alaaya further expressed satisfaction with the general conduct of the candidates in connection with compliance with the laid down rules and regulations.
“Yes, they have been very cooperative and orderly in their conduct and that is highly commendable on their part”.
Other centres visited by PMParrot includeed JAMB Ekiti office centre along New Iyin Road, Ado-Ekiti, Afe Babalola CBT Centre, Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti Centre, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, EKiti State, among others.
Packaged By Emmanuel Adeniran
