Hundreds of JAMB students protest in Port Harcourt

Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt

Hundreds of prospective Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (JAMB) candidates from far-flung coastal areas of the Rivers state today in Port Harcourt staged a peaceful protest to various media houses over the refusal of JAMB to give the access code to register in area other than the state capital.

The leader of the group, Philip Angene, complained of the inability of the examination body to provide them with Access Code, which has made it impossible for them to register for the 2015.

He dismissed the allegation by JAMB that consultants and private registration agents aided and abetted examination. He argued that the new policy where students are denied Access Codes puts hardship on prospective candidates.

“How would JAMB expect somebody from Kula, Soku, Bonny Island or Ataba to travel over six to eight hours on speed boats to Port Harcourt just to register for UTME and is expected to go through the same rigours to check results in this internet age?”

“We want a situation where everyone in the country can register for the examination in any nearby Cyber cafe without risking their lives traveling,” he asserted.

The Coordinator, International Protection Initiative, John Ihua lashed at the exam body for the anti-people policy, noting that, it further inflicts unbearable pains on the over-burdened youths of the country.

He threatened that if the obnoxious policy is not rescinded immediately civil society coalition groups in the country would be compelled to organise a mass protest across the country.

Ihua argued that rather than blame agents or consultants for aiding and abetting, JAMB should put is house in order.