They stressed that while they acknowledge the rescheduling of the exams as a corrective step, the damage to trust and confidence may already be significant.
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The South East Senate Caucus has expressed deep concern and suspicion following reported technical glitches during the last Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, which affected several centres in Lagos and the entire South East region.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, May 17, by the Chairman of the caucus, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, the lawmakers described the incident as “curious and highly suspicious,” raising fears of a possible targeted agenda against candidates from the South East.
The senators expressed grave disappointment, warning that any future occurrence of such a “near disaster” would be utterly unacceptable. They stressed that while they acknowledge the rescheduling of the exams as a corrective step, the damage to trust and confidence may already be significant.
“The so-called glitch, as curious and suspicious as it were, is enough to erode confidence and dangerously lower national pride among the future generation,” Abaribe stated, reflecting the frustration and anger among the lawmakers.
Although the caucus welcomed the tearful public apology by JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, they were wary of accepting it at face value.
Senator Abaribe cautioned that such displays of penitence must not serve as a cover for any “sinister agenda” that could further marginalise the region educationally.
He emphasised that the incident has triggered growing fears and frustrations among parents and candidates in the South East, many of whom see education as the key to progress and equality in the federation.
“That the glitch happened in the whole of South East raises pertinent questions that must be answered by JAMB to assuage the growing frustrations and fears among the people of the region, particularly the children who are directly at the receiving end,” he said.
The caucus warned against the injection of “hateful politics and narrow parochial considerations” into national education policy and called for a truly inclusive Nigerian agenda.
Declaring that education is a fundamental right and a pillar of national development, the senators demanded firm assurances from JAMB and other educational agencies that such lapses will not be repeated.
“We are at alert and under pressure,” Abaribe concluded, “and we unequivocally demand that this scandalous glitch must never happen again.”