UTME Candidates Stranded at Lagos CBT Centre Due to Technical Issues

Thousands of candidates scheduled to take the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) at the Al Mizyan Schools Computer Based Test (CBT) Centre in Ikotun, Lagos State, were left stranded on Thursday due to technical glitches at the facility. The issues, reportedly caused by problems with the cable connections, prevented the first set of candidates slated for a 7 am exam from taking the test.

Parents and guardians of the affected students expressed frustration and skepticism over the explanation provided by the CBT centre operators. "They just told us there are issues with the connection cables and the candidates should go and reprint their examination slips, hoping to reschedule the exam. But up till now, nothing has changed," said a parent who wished to remain anonymous.

The sister of one of the stranded candidates noted that the Al Mizyan Schools CBT Centre had faulty equipment and should not have been accredited as a UTME exam location in the first place. "The first set of candidates for 7 am could not take the exam. The second set for 9 am are still waiting as of 11:30 am. The computers are not working," she reported.

Why this matters: The technical issues at the Al Mizyan Schools CBT Centre have disrupted the UTME exam process for thousands of candidates, potentially impacting their chances of gaining admission to tertiary institutions. The situation raises concerns about the readiness and suitability of some CBT centres to administer the high-stakes examination.

In response to the situation, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Public Relations Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), assured that efforts are being made to ensure all registered candidates can sit for the examination. "We are doing everything possible to ensure that all candidates who have registered for this examination are able to take it," Benjamin stated. The 2024 UTME is scheduled to run from April 19 to 29 across various CBT centres nationwide.

Key Takeaways

• Thousands of UTME candidates stranded at Lagos CBT centre due to technical glitches.
• Parents and guardians frustrated by the centre's explanation for the issues.
• Centre's equipment deemed faulty, raising concerns about its suitability as an exam location.
• JAMB assures efforts to ensure all registered candidates can take the 2024 UTME exam.
• 2024 UTME scheduled from April 19-29 across various CBT centres nationwide.