Candidates and parents in Nasarawa State were left frustrated on Saturday as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) mock examination failed to commence on schedule at some centres. The examination, scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., did not start until much later, with some centres still idle as of 11:28 a.m. Parents who had arrived at the centres as early as 5:30 a.m. to meet the stipulated time were subjected to a prolonged wait, which left many students hungry and exhausted.
The delayed start of the examination subjected both candidates and parents to hardship, with some parents describing the situation as inhumane. One parent, who preferred to remain anonymous, described the situation as unacceptable, while another parent, Ubong Akpan, criticised the delay, saying the country was not adequately prepared for the new examination system. Mr Akpan expressed concerns that the prolonged waiting period had affected the morale of the candidates.
The centre in question, God's Own School, Masaka, in Karu Local Government Area, was still idle as of 2 p.m., with the examination having ended nationwide. A candidate, Blessing Ugwu, expressed disappointment at the delay, saying it had affected her concentration. Another candidate, Joseph Aboyede, attributed the delay to poor preparation at the centre.
JAMB's failure to commence the mock examination on schedule at some centres in Nasarawa State raises serious concerns about the board's preparedness for the new examination system. The prolonged delay subjected both candidates and parents to hardship, leaving many students hungry and exhausted. This incident highlights the need for JAMB to revisit its examination procedures to prevent such delays in the future. The delay also raises questions about the board's ability to manage the new examination system effectively. The impact of this delay will be felt by many students and parents, who are already under immense pressure to perform well in the examination.
