JAMB Defends 6:30 AM Reporting Time Amid Peter Obi’s Criticism Over Candidate Safety
This post has already been read at least 114 times!
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has defended its directive requiring candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to arrive at their centres by 6:30 am for accreditation, following criticism from former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Obi, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, condemned the practice of mandating teenagers to report as early as 6:30 am amid prevailing security concerns. He described the arrangement as “reckless,” citing reports of student accidents, missing persons, and instances of trauma among candidates.
He linked the situation to Nigeria’s chronic underinvestment in education infrastructure, arguing that the safety of young candidates was being jeopardized.
“Setting exams for vulnerable teenagers as early as 6:00 am, while transporting them across distant locations, is reckless,” Obi stated. “Reports are emerging of students getting into accidents, some going missing, and others facing trauma. Who takes responsibility when a 15- or 16-year-old child is harmed while pursuing their right to education?”
In response, JAMB clarified via its official X account that examinations themselves do not begin at 6:00 am. Instead, candidates are required to arrive at 6:30 am to undergo verification and clearance processes, with examinations starting at 8:00 am.
The board explained that the early reporting time was instituted to avoid disruptions caused by late arrivals, stating, “Given Nigerians’ tendency to arrive late when no buffer time is set, the 6:30 am reporting time ensures candidates are settled and ready for the exam.”
JAMB emphasized that the arrangement was designed to support candidate performance by preventing unnecessary delays.
Parents have also previously voiced concerns about the early reporting time, especially for candidates assigned to distant examination centres.
Obi, reiterating his call for systemic reform, urged for increased investment in Nigeria’s educational infrastructure. He pointed out that Nigeria’s Gross Enrollment Ratio remains below global standards and compared the country’s situation to Indonesia’s, advocating for the expansion of universities and exam centres to make education safer and more accessible.
This post has already been read at least 114 times!
