By Etse Kassim, Abuja
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced $20 as the registration fee for foreign based candidates in 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) .
Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB’s Registrar, who made this known during a stakeholders meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, said such candidates were made to cough out $150 in the 2017 UTME.
The JAMB boss also disclosed that the next year’s UTME will commence between 9 and 17 March, 2018.
While saying that the UTME fee for candidates in Nigeria is still N5,000, inclusive of bank commission, Oloyede said the crashing of the fee for candidates outside the the country was in line with the Board’s commitment to fairness.
His words: “In 2017, the foreign based candidates paid 100 dollars in countries on Africa and 150 dollars in countries outside Africa.
“Meanwhile, in order to streamline the application fees in tardem with application fees for other public examinations in other countries, management has approved 20 dollars per candidate as application fees for all foreign based candidates in any country.”
On the preparation for next year UTME, the former University of Ilorin’s Vice Chancellor said the sale of application form would commence on 22 November and end on 22 January, 2018, adding that about 620 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres have been penciled down for the exercise.
He warned that the Board would have zero tolerance for examination malpractise, which has prompted it to ban the use of electronic gadgets by candidates or examiners during the UTME.
He said, “In the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the Board would introduce electronic jammers at all CBT centres. This is an additional measure at ensuring that the integrity of the test is maintained.
“In addition to telephone and other materials prohibited in examination sessions, items like any electronic gadget/device/lens, wrist watches are prohibited.
“Any form of pen (only ordinary pencil is allowed), eye glasses are to be scrutunised,” Oloyede said.
The JAMB boss advised prospective candidates to log on to the Board’s website for the syllables and other relevant information on the examination, adding that the organisation is fully committed to ensure a seamless registration process.
