The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, has issued a stern warning to parents, cautioning against any interference during the examination process.
In an exclusive interview, Prof. Oloyede emphasized the need for parents to refrain from disrupting the UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) proceedings.
Reflecting on a past incident involving result forgery by a candidate, Mmesoma Ejikeme, in 2023, Prof. Oloyede dismissed the event as baseless. He stated, “There was nothing to be learned from it because, from the beginning, we knew that it was false.” He further highlighted the importance of adhering to facts and avoiding hasty judgments.
Addressing the issue of parental behavior, Prof. Oloyede expressed concern over the tendency of some parents to intrude unnecessarily and manipulate the education system for their children’s benefit. He criticized the mindset of parents who excessively focus on their child’s performance without considering the broader context of academic competition.
In response to such disruptions, JAMB has announced a decisive measure. Prof. Oloyede stated, “We are taking a decision now that we will make a candidate culpable once the mother or father or the parent of that person is found to have disrupted our examination.” He emphasized the need for accountability and stressed that candidates would face consequences for their parents’ misconduct.
Furthermore, Prof. Oloyede outlined strict penalties for examination centers that permit parental interference. Any center allowing parents to disrupt the examination process will face delisting from JAMB’s authorized centers. Additionally, candidates whose parents engage in disruptive behavior will be subject to disciplinary action.