The ongoing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has remained hitch-free in Enugu, as parents hailed the peaceful conduct of the examination.

Based on close monitoring of the examinations at some UTME computer-based tests (CBT) centres in Enugu on Friday, it was observed that the power failure issue had been adequately addressed.

The CBT centres run on generating sets and have over 200 functional computer sets, and at least five security men, comprising personnel from the Nigeria Police, the State Security Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The JAMB candidates who visited the CBT centres included those from Union Secondary School, Awkunanaw; Holy Rosary College, Zik Avenue; and Julia-Gee Cornerstone Secondary School, Enugu, who were orderly.

Speaking on the exercise, a JAMB official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the centres ran four sitting sessions a day.

He noted that within five or six days, all JAMB candidates sitting in Enugu must have completed the CBT.

“So far, we have no challenge, and the candidates are calm and orderly. We have not recorded a complaint of malfunction of any computer set, and the candidates are happy,” he said.

A parent, Monday Ukachukwu, commended JAMB for making clear-cut arrangements for the examination in terms of technical provisions.

“You can see that JAMB provided its own independent electricity supply through these generating sets and did not rely on the national grid, which usually fails,” Mr Ukachukwu, who accompanied his daughter for the examination, said.

Another parent, Ogechi Mamah, who escorted her son to the exam centre, said that the level of security within and outside the CBT centres had been impressive.

“The security men have remained professional and assisted to ensure the examination is hitch-free and only genuine stakeholders for the exam come around the centre,” Ms Mamah said.

A JAMB candidate, Austin Madumere, said he was impressed with the examination, as no system malfunctions or power outages occurred.

The UTME examination, which would run for 10 days nationwide, started on April 16 and would terminate on April 25. 

(NAN)