Some admission seekers and parents have expressed concern about the financial burden of securing admission into tertiary institutions, particularly the cost of uploading their O’Level results on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) portal.

They spoke in separate interviews in Abuja on Thursday.

They said the cost of the admission process had continued to mount, including expenses for registration, result uploads, post-UTME screening, transportation, printing of documents, and other admission-related services.

According to them, the financial pressure is particularly heavy on candidates from low-income families already struggling to meet the basic requirements for tertiary education.

JAMB had earlier clarified that candidates who previously uploaded their O’Level results are not required to re-upload them or obtain a verification code under the board’s new verification system.

The clarification followed numerous complaints and enquiries from candidates who uploaded their results during the current registration exercise, after the release of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results, or in previous years under the old upload process.

JAMB said it introduced the new verification process to strengthen the integrity of O’Level results and prevent falsified results from being accepted during the admission process.

Under the new initiative, candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions will pay N4,000 once to verify their O’Level results.

‎According to the board, the initiative will reduce the stress and costs associated with repeated visits to tertiary institutions or JAMB-approved computer-based test centres.

A parent, Akolade Opadere, said the N4,000 payment was becoming another burden for families trying to support their children through the admission process.

Ms ‎Opadere said parents had already spent considerable amounts on JAMB registration, post-UTME forms, transportation and other requirements, adding that the additional payment was difficult for families with limited income.

‎She said some parents had more than one child seeking admission, making every additional expense a serious concern.

‎“Parents are already spending money on many things for their children’s admission. Adding another payment makes things more difficult, especially for families that are not financially comfortable.

‎“For some of us, it is not just about finding the money but finding it at the right time because there are other bills waiting to be paid.

‎“I believe JAMB should consider the situation of ordinary parents and look at ways of reducing the financial burden on families,” she said.

‎Another parent, Nathaniel Adamu, said the issue should be looked at from the perspective of making admission processes affordable for all candidates.

Mr ‎Adamu said while there might be reasons for the payment, the authorities should consider its impact on families, particularly those with limited income.

‎He said access to tertiary education should not be made more difficult for qualified candidates because of costs associated with completing admission procedures.

‎“JAMB and other education authorities need to look at the total cost parents bear during the admission process and not consider each payment in isolation. Many families are already under financial pressure, and additional charges can become a serious burden, especially for parents with more than one child seeking admission.

‎“We are not saying that necessary services should not be paid for, but there should be consideration for candidates who may genuinely struggle to afford these payments,” he said.

‎Mr Adamu urged JAMB to ensure that the cost of admission-related services did not prevent qualified candidates from completing their admission process.

‎He also called for clear information on the payment, including its purpose and the services covered, to help parents and candidates understand the requirement.

‎Mr Adamu said greater transparency would also help to reduce confusion and ensure that candidates were not subjected to unnecessary financial demands during the admission process.

‎He urged relevant authorities to consider affordable alternatives that would enable candidates to complete the result-upload process without placing additional pressure on their families.

‎An admission seeker, Matthew Ohizu, said the payment was also affecting candidates because some of them depended entirely on their parents or guardians for money.

Mr ‎Ohizu said although uploading the result was important for the admission process, not every candidate had immediate access to the required money.

‎He said some candidates might have to wait for their parents to raise the money, while others could be forced to borrow from friends or relatives.

‎“I understand that the result has to be uploaded, but the payment is another expense for us. Some candidates may not have the money readily available. We are already spending money on transport, screening and other admission requirements, so every additional payment puts pressure on us.

‎“For candidates from families that are struggling financially, this can be frustrating because you may have the required result but still face difficulty completing the admission process because of money,” he said.

Another admission seeker, Ayomide Joseph, appealed to JAMB and tertiary institutions to continue streamlining the admission process and ensure candidates were not made to pay unnecessary charges for services already covered by approved fees.

Also, Hawal Abdulfatai said his parents had spent considerable money on the admission process even before receiving an offer of admission.

“My parents have paid for JAMB registration, post-UTME, and transportation to the institution. Now, I also have to ensure that my O’Level result is properly uploaded on the JAMB portal before I can be considered for admission.

“For a candidate whose parents are struggling financially, all these expenses become a serious burden,” he said.

‎Findings revealed that result uploading is closely linked to JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), the platform established to automate and regulate admission into tertiary institutions.

The system was designed to restore tertiary institutions’ autonomy in admissions while keeping candidates at the centre of the process.

The system aims to address challenges associated with the manual system by empowering candidates with information on available institutions and programmes, expanding admission opportunities, and eliminating multiple admissions.

It also enables candidates to monitor their admission status and confirm provisional admissions, while institutions can process admissions through a structured platform.

Against this background, admission seekers have been advised to rely on admissions offered through CAPS and to be wary of individuals or institutions promising admission outside the official process.

JAMB has made its position clear: admissions offered by tertiary institutions must come through the board and appear on its official admission platform.

In its 2026 admission guidelines, JAMB stated that all admissions offered by institutions must originate from the exam board and be printed on the JAMB e-Facility.

It further stated that any offer of admission from a tertiary institution without a JAMB admission letter is illegal and not recognised by the board, adding that candidates who accept admission outside CAPS do so at their own risk.

(NAN)