23rd June, 2021
PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC GIVES JAMB THUMBS UP
An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim
Rights Concern (MURIC), has given the Joint Admissions Matriculations Board (JAMB)
the thumbs up. According to MURIC, JAMB deserves commendation in view of its
swift response to challenges and the disciplinary actions meted out to erring
Computer Based Test (CBT) Centres during the ongoing JAMB examinations around
the country.
MURIC spoke on Wednesday, 23rd June,
2021 via its director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
“The Joint Admissions Matriculations Board (JAMB)
deserves accolades in view of its swift response to challenges and the
disciplinary actions meted out to erring Computer Based Test (CBT) Centres
during the ongoing JAMB examinations around the country.
“We are not saying JAMB is perfect, but the Board has performed
creditably well having succeeded in keeping its head above in the murky waters
of the Nigerian ecosystem. We monitor national examinations in this country and
we know what happens in many of them. But JAMB has been able to rise above the
maddening crowd.
“The examination body has demonstrated beyond any
reasonable doubt that it will not take any nonsense from anybody. The swift
manner with which JAMB delisted twenty four (24) CBT centres within 24 hours of
receiving credible reports of their misdemeanour leaves us in no doubt
whatsoever that there will be no hiding place for those who fall short of
expectations.
“A case in point is one of the CBT centres in Lagos
where candidates who were billed to start the examination by 7 am on Saturday,
19th June, 2021 were kept sitting in the hall from 7 am to 3 pm
doing virtually nothing. Meanwhile the 9 am batch as well as other batches were
kept waiting outside. They were only told to go home around 3.30 pm after
wasting the whole day. The centre’s excuse was that its computer systems failed
to come up.
“We were very excited when the centre’s name was found among the 25
delisted centres 24 hours later. We are still marvelling at the efficiency and
high level discipline manifested by JAMB. This is how things are made to work
in a serious country. There must be consequences for negligence or if some
people abdicate their responsibilities. What we need is strong systems and a
culture of discipline. That is what JAMB is giving us.
“The posting of candidates far away from their
bases is an area JAMB may want to look into for improvement. There is always
room for better performance in any institution. We discovered during monitoring
that some parents and guardians had to accompany their children and wards
respectively to sleep overnight somewhere close to the centre.
“We understand the need for JAMB to remove the
proximity and comfort zone factor in order to reduce the level of examination
malpractices but perhaps something can still be done to alleviate the suffering
of both candidates, parents and wards. This will add lustre to JAMB’s human
face.
“Credit must also be given to JAMB for ensuring that the persecution of
female Muslim candidates which used to be widespread in the South West during
its examination has been reduced to its barest minimum. This was made possible
by adequate briefing and enlightenment sessions organised by JAMB for its staff
and ad hoc workers prior to the examinations.
“But MURIC still received reports that a few
recalcitrant and overbearing security and ad hoc workers still delayed hijab-wearing
female candidates for as long as one hour before permiting them to enter the
examination hall. We will like to suggest that a small leaflet containing
rights of candidates and limitations of officials should be among documents to
be downloaded by registered candidates. Such a material can also be distributed
among all officials at the examination centres.
“Candidates facing harassment and profiling can
show this to overzealous security or ad hoc staff. Religious sentiment
apart, examination officials should be made to realise that harassment of
candidates for any reason at all before or during the examination may affect
the emotional stability of such candidates and reduce their chances of giving
their best during the examinations. It is conservative, crude and brutish.
“Finally, MURIC will like to register its great
pleasure with the way and manner JAMB has displayed transparency,
accountability and high level discipline without compromising administrative
efficiency.”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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