The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved that its accredited computer-based tests (CBT) centres should increase service charges per candidate from N1,400 to N2,000.

In its weekly bulletin, JAMB explained that initially, each candidate paid the sum of N1,400, made up of N700 for mock-UTME and another N700 for the UTME.

“Henceforth, partnering CBT centres will collect the sum of N2,000 as service charges from candidates sitting for both the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and mock-UTME.

“In essence, candidates who did not indicate to sit for the mock-UTME will pay only N1,000 for the UTME while those who want to sit for the mock UTME will pay an additional N1,000.

“This is irrespective of whether they sit for the examination or not,” it stated.

It stated that the board resolved on this move as many candidates who indicated an interest in taking the mock-UTME had repeatedly refused to turn up for the exercise.

It, however, explained that the high cost of maintaining the centres for the two exercises prompted it to approve the increase to ease the pressure on the centres.

“Consequently, candidates are now advised to make up their minds if, indeed, they want to participate in the mock exercise before indicating their interest at the point of registration. This is because they will be required to pay for it.

“It is also owing to the fact that once candidates indicate their interest to take the mock-UTME, the centres to which they will be assigned will be mandated to put in place necessary facilities to prepare for their appearance,” JAMB said.

In a similar development, the board also said that it would delist all CBT centres that failed to meet up with its approved capacity during the 2022 exercise.

JAMB said this would include all centres that could not perform optimally to the approved capacities, reducing their abilities to conduct the 2022 UTME to specification.

The board said that the measure became imperative as it had begun preparations for its next exercise while also assuring of its readiness to surpass this year’s success in subsequent exercises.

(NAN)