JAMB Introduces New Policies to Ease Admission Anxiety for Candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is making changes to its policies to improve transparency and reduce anxiety for students during the admission process. Registrar Prof. Segun Aina announced these updates during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday.

Aina explained that the new measures aim to enhance existing processes rather than completely overhaul them. These changes are in line with a directive from President Bola Tinubu to lessen emotional stress for students and boost public confidence in the admission system.

One significant change allows candidates to track their admission status more closely. Instead of just seeing a “not admitted” message, students can now view updates on their application status, which aims to ease their nerves while waiting for decisions.

Additionally, candidates can update their email addresses and phone numbers if they lose access to them, thanks to new technology. JAMB has also partnered with the National Identity Management Commission to help ensure that candidates’ names and personal details are accurate and consistent.

Aina addressed whether these changes represent a rebranding of JAMB, stating that they are meant to build on past reforms. He acknowledged the contributions of the previous leadership in strengthening the board’s operations.

In discussing future plans, Aina mentioned the introduction of assessments for critical thinking and life skills. A committee has been formed to explore how these skills could be integrated into JAMB’s examinations, which currently focus mainly on subjects from the Senior Secondary School Certificate exams.

These assessments could provide a broader understanding of candidates’ abilities and help determine their readiness for university education. Aina noted that this initiative might also support wider access to education by looking beyond traditional academic performance.