The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says accredited Computer Based Tests (CBT) centres can now register candidates for the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Distance Learning and others.
The board made this known in its Weekly Bulletin of the office of the Registrar, on Monday in Abuja.
JAMB said that it has now given approval for candidates, who wish to apply for part-time, sandwich, NOUN and distance learning programmes to do so at only accredited CBT centres nationwide.
The board added that this was with effect from Tuesday, Feb. 22.
“Following request from CBT centre owners to be allowed to perform certain specialised operations, JAMB has decided to allow accredited CBT centres to handle one of its critical operations.
“This operation was restricted to only the board’s offices nationwide, consequently, with effect from Tuesday, Feb. 22, candidates can visit any accredited CBT centre nearest to them to access the service.
“The particular service is the registration of candidates, who wish to obtain application forms for part-time, Sandwich, NOUN, and distance learning programmes,” the statement said.
JAMB said that the development came as a measure to decongest its offices nationwide, following a usually crowded exercise during the process.
It also urged CBT centre operatives to charge only N700, the regulated service charge for the exercise and nothing more.
JAMB said: “These categories of candidates are not part of the newly introduced cashless policy and are therefore to pay the N700 at the registration point using ATM cards.
“However, Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) candidates are to note that the service charge for their application documents is already included as part of their E-PIN fees.”
The board also cautioned all operators of CBT centres, E-PIN vendors, staff of JAMB and others involved in all aspects of the 2022 exercise against keeping any part of candidates’ data.
It said that keeping data of candidates was against the provisions of the Data Protection Act, while adding that the data of each candidate was private property and should remain so.
“No official in the registration value chain is authorised to keep candidates’ profile codes, UTME registration number or phone numbers, which is made available to them at point of registration.
“Candidates on the other hand are to guard their information jealously by providing their details to only designated officials, while ensuring that they are not duplicated or kept elsewhere.”
The board, while describing the commencement of the 2022 UTME/DE exercise as a positive beginning, assured that all hiccups noted since its commencement on Saturday would be addressed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2022 registration commenced on Saturday, Feb.19 and is expected to end on March 26.
NAN also reports that 2022 UTME has been scheduled by JAMB to hold from May 6 to May 16.
(NAN)