Stakeholders urge new JAMB Registrar to prioritise fairness, innovation

Education

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Education stakeholders have urged the newly appointed Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Segun Aina, to improve fairness, inclusiveness, accessibility, and technological efficiency in the conduct of examinations across the country.

The stakeholders spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) following Aina’s appointment as registrar of the examination body.

National President of the Parent-Teacher Association of Nigeria (PTA), Prof. Bonyface Odeh, described the appointment of the 39-year-old professor as a positive development, stressing that competence and qualification should take precedence over age.

“A professor in Nigeria is a professor all over the world. If he is qualified to become a professor, then he is qualified to hold any public office entrusted to him,” Odeh said.

He, however, urged the new registrar to address challenges associated with the Computer-Based Test (CBT) system, particularly the inadequate availability of computers in many secondary schools across the country.

“We do not have computers in many secondary schools in Nigeria. A child who has never seen a computer before is expected to sit for a university admission examination using a computer. That is a serious challenge,” he stated.

According to him, while the CBT policy remains commendable, schools must first be adequately equipped to ensure that students acquire basic digital literacy before participating in computer-based examinations.

Odeh also called for more flexible policies for correcting candidates’ personal details, including names and ages, noting that genuine registration errors should not become barriers for students.

“Nobody is above mistakes. If a child makes an error in spelling or arrangement of names, there should be a provision for correction,” he added.

The PTA president further urged the Federal Government to ensure fairness and adherence to the federal character principle in appointments into key national institutions.

He expressed optimism that Aina would consolidate on the achievements of his predecessor while introducing reforms capable of improving the examination system.

Also speaking, education analyst, Mr Nathaniel Adamu, described the new registrar as well-positioned to drive innovation and modernise JAMB operations through technology-driven reforms.

According to him, Aina’s background in technology and education would help improve service delivery and address technical glitches often experienced during examinations.

“The young man is up and doing and, with the enthusiasm he has, he will make a positive impact,” Adamu said.

He added that the registrar’s relatively young age could become an advantage in understanding the realities and digital challenges faced by candidates in modern examinations.

“We now have a young person who will think the way young people are thinking and bring innovations that will make JAMB better than it has been,” he stated.

Adamu also expressed confidence that the incoming registrar would deploy technology-based solutions to strengthen the credibility, efficiency, and transparency of the examination process.

On his part, the Principal of Grace of God Schools, Mr Bassey Bassey, described the appointment of younger professionals into educational leadership positions as a progressive step capable of driving reforms within the sector.

Bassey argued that competence, research capacity, and administrative ability should remain the key criteria for leadership appointments rather than age.

He urged the new registrar to tackle persistent challenges affecting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), including insufficient CBT centres, long travel distances for candidates, and technical failures during examinations.

According to him, stronger collaboration between government and private sector operators would improve facilities, speed up result processing, and create opportunities for more flexible examination schedules, including the possibility of biannual UTME examinations.

The principal also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing younger individuals into strategic public offices, describing the move as necessary for national development.

Another school administrator, Mr Enyi Michael of Maria Assumpta School, expressed confidence that younger leadership within JAMB would help address modern challenges facing examination bodies, particularly issues related to digital security and system management.

He said the new registrar was expected to introduce reforms capable of correcting some of the irregularities and technical concerns experienced under the previous administration.