Parents Defy JAMB Directive, Besiege CBT Centres

By Blessing Okareh

Despite the directive of JAMB for Parents to stay away from CBT centers, many parents still throng the Examination venues in support of their children and wards sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME which commenced Nationwide today.

Radio Nigeria correspondents who monitored the exercise in Ibadan Oyo State, report that parents were seen waiting patiently for their children writing the Examination.

Some of the parents who spoke with Radio Nigeria said it was practically impossible to allow their children to go to the CBT Centers alone for the Examination.

Two parents Mrs Olufunke Owofadeju and Mr Tosin Bakare noted that many of the Candidates were below the age of accountability and as such could not be left alone “Why i followed my daughter is that we come long distance. We are from Oyo and i cannot allow her alone to come from Oyo.Infact, in the morning the CBT officials addressed us that we should stay away.”

Similarly, Mrs Oluwadamilola Ayinde said, “I have child and we also come from long distance.That is the reason i followed him here and he cannot go back home without may be , i followed him back.All those people invigilating them did not allow us to stay here at all “.

Speaking on the age of students writing the examination, one if the parents said’ 17 years was better because 15,16, i think the age is still small for them.My child is 17 years

Mr. Tosin Bakare who is a business man said ” The directive of JAMB to parents not to be at the venue of the test, I don’t think they thought it through.There are some children that are not of that age that you can leave them alone. it behoves on parents to guide their children.Where i will agree with JAMB is that some unruly parents tend to take such opportunity to disrupt the examination.They should be handled appropriately”.
On the age of students, the opinion of Mr Bakare is that, “The legal age for the independence of a child is 18 ,in some countries 21.So, when a child is still 17, he is not up to.that age of full responsibility.But 17 to.me is still ok”.

Some of the candidates said the examination was hitch free.

Radio Nigeria however observed that the exercise was very orderly.

The 2024 UTME is holding across the Nation in over 700 CBT centers.