The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has put forward a proposal to utilize mobile phones for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry Examinations. The board intends to implement the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) system, allowing candidates to take the exams using their mobile phones. This proposal was announced by Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, during the 2023 policy meeting currently taking place at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja.
According to Oloyede, this initiative aims to reduce the financial burden of conducting examinations, as the board has been expending significant amounts of money on the process. In the presentation made by Oloyede, he stated, “On the way forward, we are looking at BYOD – allowing JAMB students to bring their telephones. This reduces capital investment but may not promote digital literacy. We will establish a mobile examination malpractice tribunal to address criminal offenses, while institutions will handle cases of misconduct.”
Furthermore, JAMB plans to collaborate with security agencies and relevant organizations to combat cybercrimes and utilize their expertise to identify candidates engaging in malpractice. The board also intends to shift certain services to the registration portal to prevent extortion and is considering open book examinations to discourage cheating. Additionally, there will be a focus on establishing a single identity for all candidates through the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC) to deter impersonation.
It is important to note that these proposals are still in the discussion and planning stages, and further details and guidelines regarding the implementation of mobile phones in the exams are expected to be announced by JAMB in due course.
