Victoria Mbangwa
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has launched a new accreditation process for Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres ahead of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The new accreditation process aimed to ensure that all centres meet stringent standards to provide a smooth and effective examination experience.
This was disclosed in a statement from JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.
The statement outline a multi-step accreditation procedure. In a notable change from previous years, the Board now requires all centres, both new and existing, to undergo a series of mandatory checks before they can be approved for the upcoming UTME.
The statement read, “All new Computer-Based Test centres who desire to participate in the 2025 UTME exercise are to first visit https://www.jamb.gov.ng/Pdfs/CBT_centre_requirements.pdf to avail themselves of the requirements for establishing a JAMB-approved CBT centre.
“Following this, these centres should notify the Board in writing of their intention to participate in the accreditation exercise. This notification should be addressed to the Registrar of JAMB through the Zonal Director or State Coordinator in their respective states.
“Established centres that were successfully accredited and participated in the 2024 UTME without any issues should proceed to register their interest through the Centre Management System Portal.
“The Zonal and State Offices will create accounts for new centres on the CMS Portal to facilitate their registration. All centres must conduct an Autobot/Autotest on a date that will be communicated to them, as part of their preparation for the physical accreditation visit by the Board’s team.
“It is essential to note that the Autobot/Autotest is mandatory; only centres that complete this test and meet the necessary criteria will be eligible for a physical visit.“
Dr. Benjamin further emphasized in the statement the importance of the Autobot/Autotest, stating that it would serve as a critical filter to ensure only centres with the necessary technical capabilities are selected for the 2025 UTME.
“Only centres that qualify will receive information regarding the date for the physical accreditation exercise, scheduled for December 2024. Centres that do not achieve satisfactory results on the Autobot/Autotest will not be revisited.
“Centres that meet all stipulated requirements will be approved and included by the Board for the 2025 UTME registration and examination.” He added.
“Only centres that pass the Autobot/Autotest will be eligible for a physical visit,” he said, underscoring that a subpar performance would lead to exclusion from the final accreditation phase.
The process culminates in a physical accreditation visit, scheduled for December 2024, during which JAMB’s team will verify that the centres comply with all operational and technical standards. Successful centres will then be officially approved and included in the list of registered centres for the 2025 UTME.
JAMB’s decision to implement the Autobot/Autotest and enhance the accreditation process comes in response to increasing concerns about the integrity and reliability of CBT centres. Previous UTME exercises have seen complaints about technical glitches, inadequate facilities, and malfunctioning systems, leading the Board to adopt a more robust approach for the 2025 examination.
“The goal is to ensure that every candidate, irrespective of their location, has access to an accredited, functional, and reliable CBT centre for the UTME,” said Dr. Benjamin. By tightening the accreditation process, JAMB hopes to avoid the technical issues that have plagued past examinations and ensure a smooth testing experience for millions of candidates.
The accreditation process is set to conclude by December 2024, and only centres that meet the Board’s exacting standards will be eligible to participate in the 2025 UTME. The Board has urged all operators of CBT centres to act swiftly to ensure they are fully prepared to meet the new requirements and timelines.
