The House of Representatives has called on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to extend the validity of the Unified Tertiary Education Examination (UTME) result to three years. In addition, the House urged the Minister of Education to implement measures for conducting the examination twice annually.
During the recent plenary session, a motion was presented by Akintunde Rotimi, emphasizing the importance of extending the UTME result validity from one to three years. Rotimi expressed concern over the current situation where the result is only valid for one year. This limitation renders the result useless if candidates fail to secure admission into their desired tertiary institution within that academic year. Consequently, parents are burdened with the need to enroll their children annually, creating a double jeopardy scenario.
Rotimi further highlighted the contrast with the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations, whose results remain valid indefinitely. Despite the recurring strikes by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) that have disrupted complete academic calendars, JAMB still conducts its examination without considering the impact of these industrial actions.
In light of these concerns, the House of Representatives urges JAMB to extend the UTME result validity to three years, allowing candidates ample time to secure admission into their preferred institutions. This would alleviate the burden on parents and provide a fairer opportunity for students seeking tertiary education.
By addressing these issues and considering the needs of students and parents, JAMB can contribute to a more efficient and accessible educational system.