The Computer Based Test Centres Proprietor’s Association ( CPAN) has called for a review of its partnership with the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), saying that members of the union were been short-changed by JAMB in the current arrangement.
Maxwell Akwuruoha, National President of CPAN, stated while speaking at the union’s 4th national conference which was held at the Nigeria Army officer’s mess hall, Yaba.
The annual Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Nigeria has been conducted through Computer Based Test since 2013. However, due to JAMB inability to provide facilities, the board engaged private investors to establish Computer Based Test centres across the country for the registration and conduct of the examination.
Akwuruoha lamented that despite the crucial role of the union members towards the conduct and success of the examination since 2013, there was no formal agreement between the union and JAMB.
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The national chairman, seek a review of the N600 examination fees per candidate paid by JAMB to the CBT centres proprietors, stressing that the amount was no more feasible in the current economy reality.
According to him, “Its takes N25million and collectively N15 billion investments to set up a CBT centre, but right now we don’t have any document showing our relationship with JAMB. I mean MOU that defines the role our centres are supposed to play; such document would protect the proprietors and define the roles of the two.
“The rational and feasibility of paying proprietors six hundred naira per candidate who sits for exams in a centre, even when this rental of six hundred has been the standard since 2013, not considering the effects of forex and energy over the years.
“It is amazing that the beautiful edifice Of CBT project in Nigerian is only sustained by a letter of invitation written to JAMB to visit a prospective centre for inspection and an email of approval accompanied with an access code for the online registration of candidates,” Akwuruoha said.
Speaking further, he blamed the lack of formal document of understanding between JAMB and the CBT centres proprietors for the lapses noticed in the conduct of the 2019 examination.
