No fewer than 1,969 candidates missed the 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations and Direct Entry Examinations.
The affected persons missed the examination over issues such as finger-print peculiarities; technical problems in some centres and Biometric Verification Matriculation failure, according to the data collated from the website of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board by our correspondent on Sunday.
The data also showed that some candidates had their examination cancelled due to malpractices in 10 examination centres across five states.
The board did not state the number of affected candidates in that category.
All the candidates who missed their examination and those whose results were cancelled in the 10 centres have, however, been slated to take part in a mop-up examination scheduled for August 6.
The board noted that the decision was taken after thorough investigation.
It said, “It should be noted that, as is the custom with the Board after every Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the various reports from its officials in the field and video footage of the examination are reviewed by its team of experts, with a view to detecting activities subversive of the examination process.
“It is after all the reports have been collated and considered that the management would take critical decisions as to the necessity or otherwise of a mop-up examination for which category of candidates.
“After a thorough analysis of the conduct of the 2022 UTME in 10 centres spread across five states of the federation, where examination malpractice was established to have taken place, it became necessary to cancel the results of all the candidates who sat the examination in the 10 centres.
“The Board also took cognisance of the fact that some innocent candidates unfortunately sat their examination at these centres. Consequently, all candidates who sat the UTME in the centres listed below have been rescheduled for the August 6, 2022 Mop-up UTME.
“It should be noted that candidates who, for whatever reasons, were absent at those centres are not eligible for the mop-up examination.”
The board listed the affected centres as Benjyn International Academy, Amaorji-Ukwu, Obingwa Abia State; Abia Edward and Mercy Nwokocha CBT ICT Services, Abia State; Abia Freedom World Academy; Abia National Comprehensive Secondary School; St. Anthony Comprehensive Secondary School, Abia; Anambra Obidon Systematic Computers, Anambra; Urban ICT Centre, Anambra state; Holy Ghost International School, Delta State; Yomnet Academy, Edo State; and Seylek City College, Lagos State.
The board listed other categories of candidates eligible for its make-up examination as, “Other categories of candidates for rescheduled for the August 6, 2022 Mop-up UTME are: 142 candidates who could not take the UTME due to finger-print peculiarities; 28 candidates who could not take the examination due to technical problems in some centres; and 1,799 candidates with BVM failure who were recaptured at the centres.
“The board affirms its zero tolerance for examination malpractice and would do all within its powers to combat it. In the same vein, it reiterates its avowed commitment to the conduct of credible matriculation examinations into all tertiary institutions in the country while ensuring the sanctity of its examination process towards sustaining the integrity that the society has come to associate with the board.”