Bill To Make JAMB Result Valid For 4 Years
Wednesday’s House of Representatives vote passed a second reading bill that will allow results from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board to be valid for four years
Tolulope Akande–Sadipe sponsored the proposed legislation. It seeks to modify the JAMB Act 2021. The bill is titled “A bill to act to amend Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, Establishment ETC Act 2022 and other related things.”
Sadipe led the discussion. He stated that while many students pass the JAMB exam and receive outstanding scores, some students are denied admission for a variety of reasons.
She stated that the parents and children were left with no choice but to take the exam in the next year.
She said that JAMB keeps bringing up this argument because it is for income generation.
“When you look at the number of students who apply for university admissions every year and the number that actually get in, it becomes clear that it isn’t their fault. So why should they be punished?
“There are no exams like this that are valid for a year anywhere on the planet; the Scholastic Aptitude Test is valid forever.”
“Most institutions around the world value such tests over five years. But in Nigeria, JAMB only allows for one entry and if it doesn’t, you can retake it.”
“I think this is totally unjust. There are many children in our country who are fighting to keep them in school.”
Rep. Nkem Abonta (PDP-Abia), who participated in the discussion, claimed that prolonging the validity JAMB results would contradict the purpose of those tests and cause further problems.
Rep. Chinyere Igwe (PDP–Rivers), argued in her submission that there was a difference between an entry exam and a final examination.
She stated that JAMB is an entrance exam and not a terminal examination as claimed by the bill’s supporters. Making the result valid for two year will lower the country’s educational standard.
Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase made these remarks and forwarded the bill on to the relevant House Committees for further legislative action.