UTME centres demand seat fee from candidates
Candidates who sat for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) on Saturday at some centers in Port Harcourt and the suburbs got more than they bargained for as they were forced to pay unofficial fees. The illegal payments included ‘marching ground fee’, ‘seat fee’ and ‘cooperation or sorting fee’.
Candidates who refused to pay the ‘sorting fee’ either based on their conviction or lack of funds were threatened that they will be labelled exam cheats. Sunday Sun checks revealed that centres in private schools were the worst culprits. For instance, candidates who sat for the examination at Malvan International School in Eliparanwo near the Rivers State capital had to pay ‘seat fee’ of N1000 before entering the examination halls.
Also those who refused to part with the minimum of N1500 mandatory sorting fee were dubbed and recommended as cheats. Narrating his son’s ordeal at that centre, a parent who did not want his name in print, complained that a list that included the boy’s name and 14 others was compiled and the female invigilator, who teaches in the school, bluntly told them to be ready to re-seat the examination next year.
“My son said when the centre coordinator came to their hall, he repeated what the woman had told them. When I heard all this shortly after the exam, I went to the woman and tried to explain to her that I forbid my children to cheat in exams and that was why he did not pay their sorting fee. She just walked away. Later, I met the centre coordinator, one slim young man, who also tried to explain away their wicked and criminal action.
“There was a woman whose daughter was also affected. She was near tears but neither the female invigilator nor the coordinator was bothered. At a stage a young man, who was with the coordinator, abused us and even threatened to fight me.
“The question for JAMB is, why allow these illegalities? Why should children be punished for refusing to cheat? One of the students wondered whether JAMB had made exam malpractice compulsory,” he said.
Another parent whose daughter sat for the examination at a center in Iwofe area alleged that some parents aided their children to cheat and urged for effective monitoring of future exercise by senior JAMB officials and security agents.
Candidates who refused to pay the ‘sorting fee’ either based on their conviction or lack of funds were threatened that they will be labelled exam cheats. Sunday Sun checks revealed that centres in private schools were the worst culprits. For instance, candidates who sat for the examination at Malvan International School in Eliparanwo near the Rivers State capital had to pay ‘seat fee’ of N1000 before entering the examination halls.
Also those who refused to part with the minimum of N1500 mandatory sorting fee were dubbed and recommended as cheats. Narrating his son’s ordeal at that centre, a parent who did not want his name in print, complained that a list that included the boy’s name and 14 others was compiled and the female invigilator, who teaches in the school, bluntly told them to be ready to re-seat the examination next year.“My son said when the centre coordinator came to their hall, he repeated what the woman had told them. When I heard all this shortly after the exam, I went to the woman and tried to explain to her that I forbid my children to cheat in exams and that was why he did not pay their sorting fee. She just walked away. Later, I met the centre coordinator, one slim young man, who also tried to explain away their wicked and criminal action.
“There was a woman whose daughter was also affected. She was near tears but neither the female invigilator nor the coordinator was bothered. At a stage a young man, who was with the coordinator, abused us and even threatened to fight me.
“The question for JAMB is, why allow these illegalities? Why should children be punished for refusing to cheat? One of the students wondered whether JAMB had made exam malpractice compulsory,” he said.
Another parent whose daughter sat for the examination at a center in Iwofe area alleged that some parents aided their children to cheat and urged for effective monitoring of future exercise by senior JAMB officials and security agents.
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