The 2026 mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) scheduled for yesterday in Asaba, Delta State could not be concluded.
The examination was marred by disappointment for candidates as JAMB’s technical connections failed to activate majority of the computers programmed for it at various centers.
Most worrisome was that there was no electricity to power the computers while the candidates were asked to go after waiting endlessly until it was discovered that the centers did not have power generators.
The second set of the candidates were unable to write the examination since the first set could not finish due to lack of power supply.
Findings by our correspondent showed that it was the case in virtually all JAMB-accredited centers within Asaba and environs, especially the Institute of Continuing Education Center, Asaba, leaving candidates frustrated without explanation from JAMB or the centers.
A candidate stated, “We were the first set timed to write the examination by 6:30 am. We actually started but at the middle of the examination, electricity went off. We expected the center to put on generator but over one hour nothing happened.
At the end they asked us to go saying it was just a mock examination.
“Our fear now is that we are not sure the examination would be submitted because we did not finish. If it is not submitted how do we know our scores? Thank God it is not the examination proper, we will then be talking of mass failures” he lamented.
Parents decried the loss of time, money and others wanted over the examination, saying both JAMB and the centers were not prepared for the task.
A parent simply called Madam Mary also complained that the 6:30am exam center report time set by JAMB was too early, especially in view of the security situation in the country.
Mrs Stella Macauley, Director Public Communication/Functional Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Delta State when contacted, said it was a JAMB affair, except that the state government said there would not be restriction of human and vehicles despite the monthly sanitation exercise in the state.
A JAMB official however said the situation would improve subsequently.