Senate To Extend JAMB Examination Validity To Three Years

The Senate on Wednesday resolved to amend the Act establishing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board by extending the validity of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination to three years.

The upper chamber took the decision after considering a report presented by the Chairman, Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust FUND, Senator Binta Garba.

The Senate had in 2015 mandated the committee to investigate the new JAMB admission policy and the unification of the tertiary institutions’ examinations.It directed the committee to include in its report, the amendment of the ACT establishing JAMB so as to extend the validity period of the results to three years.

The Senate, however, adopted the recommendation that the UTME results should have a validity period of three years to reduce the financial burden on parents.

It also resolved that the examination fees be reviewed downward to N2,500 while the change of course and institution forms as well as any other changes pertaining to JAMB examinations be free.

The upper chamber further resolved that computer laboratories should be built in all higher institutions of learning to aid Computer-Based Tests.

However, the Senate rejected a move to cut by 70 per cent, the examination cost for the National Examination Council and the West African Examination Council.

Garba had said that most of the universities had low capacity to accommodate the number of student, who seek admission on a yearly basis.

She, therefore, advocated the establishment of more institutions to accommodate the growing student population.