Mixed feelings among candidates as 2018 UTME winds down

Some candidates who wrote the 2018 unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME) expressed mixed feelings as the examination ended in some centres.

In separate interviews with NAN in Lagos, some of the candidates expressed hope of getting  placement in prestigious tertiary institutions.

However, others expressed fear that the admission process could be compromised.

Ismail Tajudeen, a candidate at the Connection Computer Institute in Ojo town, commended the process.

“The examination was in order and the organisers did a good job. I did not witness any incident of cheating or rowdiness and I am hopeful of positive results,” he said.

Michael Ogu, another candidate from the same centre said, “The examination centre here is very conducive, the computers are great and with the way I prepared for the examination, I’m sure to succeed.”

Joan David, a candidate at the Career Building Academy, Ijanikin, expressed fear at the transparency of the process.

“I am a bit scared about the examination because; last year, I was confident that I would do well, but when the results came out, I did not score enough points to secure admission,” she said.

Hakeem Balogun, at the Lagooz Secondary School Centre in Agege, a parent commended the peaceful conduct of the examination.

“I am impressed at the organisation here. I have confidence in JAMB and I am sure that my daughter will do very well in the examination. She passed last year but she was not of age,” Balogun said.

Biola Omoba, another parent at the centre, told NAN that she could boldly say that “JAMB is improving every day”.

“The atmosphere here is peaceful, no incidents of malpractices or hooliganism; I am impressed,’’ she said.

Moshood Momoh, a supervisor with JAMB, corroborated the parents’ views, saying the examinations had been peaceful so far.

“Generally, the examination has been peaceful and we have not experienced any ugly incidents. We have three sessions per day, and each session accommodates 250 candidates. So far, the turn-out has been impressive, absentees is less than one percent,” Momoh said.

The examination which started on March 9 across the country, with an estimated 1.6 million registered candidates, will end on March 19.