JAMB result to last for 3 years as Senate reduce exam fee to N2,500

By Dare Olawin

Students seeking admission into higher institutions of learning in Nigeria can now rejoice as the result of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations can now last for three years.

The Senate yesterday asked the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to extend the validity period of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination to three years.

It also asked JAMB to reduce the examination fee from N5,600 to N2,500.

These resolutions were contained in the report of an Inquiry Committee into new JAMB policies on the admission, which was considered on the floor of the Senate yesterday.

According to the report, the Committee recommended that UTME fee should not be more than N2,500.

Equally, the committee recommended that 'change of institution' and course form and all other incidental activities around the exam should be free.

The Senate however mandated the committee to amend the Act establishing JAMB to reflect the extension of the validity period to three years.

Meanwhile, the Senate condemned the non-payment of allowances of Nigerian students studying abroad, who are beneficiaries of the Bilateral Education Agreement and other scholarships of the Federal Government.

The Senate’s condemnation was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator David Umaru and seven others who expressed dissatisfaction with non-payment of study allowances to Nigerians schooling abroad.