In an interview with GRACE EDEMA, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Isa’aq Oloyede, warns parents against interfering during examination processes.
Lessons from the infamous 2023 result forgery scandal involving candidate Mmesoma Ejikeme that garnered global attention:
There were no lessons to be learned from it as it was known from the start to be false. Some individuals in Nigeria are prone to emotional reactions and reluctance to face facts, preferring to doubt public institutions. Our main focus was proving our correctness against all odds.
Lessons should have been absorbed by the candidates, parents, and those who hastily judged the issue without verification and lacked trust in JAMB. We stood our ground because we operated within the bounds of truth and facts.
Those who behaved inappropriately should have gleaned some insights from the incident.
External colleagues questioned us about the scandal:
How could such a thing happen under your watch without due process? Subsequently, the Senate took a cautious approach and initiated investigations before implicating JAMB in any controversy.
We appreciated the Senate President’s leadership in handling the matter. It turned out that the allegations had no solid foundation.
In Nigeria, the tendency is to side with the underdog while subjecting those deemed superior to unwarranted scrutiny. This skewed sense of justice prevails in our society.
Assessment of the Nigerian education system and its constituents:
Nigerian students themselves are not significantly different. It is the parents who exhibit distinct behaviors that set them apart.
Some parents intrude unnecessarily, seek to manipulate the system, and approach matters with a self-centered perspective, solely focused on their children without consideration for others.
For example, a parent may boast that their child scored 305 in an exam, aspiring to study Medicine at a prestigious university but fails to acknowledge other candidates who outperformed theirs. This skewed perception leads to unrealistic expectations and entitlement.
We are implementing a new policy that holds candidates accountable if their parents disrupt the examination process.
Such disruptions are unacceptable as seen in instances where parents caused delays over minor issues, impacting the exam sessions. Consequently, centers allowing parental interference will face delisting. Strict sanctions will be imposed on candidates with disruptive parents to deter such behavior that affects other students.
Kidnapping incident involving 280 students in Kaduna:
Our primary focus should be on ensuring the safe return of the students before delving into the broader implications for the education sector. Immediate action is crucial in resolving the pressing issue at hand.