Cross-section of candidates during a CBT Examination in the University
The reaccreditation of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) as a Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination has been described as a good thing to happen to the University and Abeokuta at large.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Professor Morenike Dipeolu who made this declaration during a chat with FUNAAB Bulletin, disclosed that FUNAAB has two Centres endorsed by JAMB for the CBT examination, adding that the University has the capacity to register students for the JAMB examination.
According to her, the Centres which include the 250 and 500 seaters Computer Laboratory, are available for use for the examination.
Professor Dipeolu who expressed delight that FUNAAB can now “feature in JAMB examination the way it should”, noted that before now, students in Abeokuta had to go as far as Igbo-Ora, in Oyo State for their JAMB Examination.
This according to her will reduce the stress undergone by parents and students willing to write their JAMB Examination in Abeokuta.
Speaking on the expected outcome the accreditation will bring between FUNAAB and JAMB, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic said, “It puts us in good stead with JAMB as good partners in progress with them”.
She thanked the University Management for their efforts towards ensuring that the accreditation sailed through by providing all that was needed for the Laboratory.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (A),
Prof. Morenike Dipeolu
Professor Dipeolu assured that the University will keep its part of the agreement towards ensuring a sustainable partnership with JAMB, stating that, “JAMB has its role to play, we have our role to play. JAMB only come once a year. I wouldn’t see our relationship with JAMB in terms of Naira and Kobo being the bottom line alone. I think the relationship goes beyond that, but we are taking a lead on what we can offer the community as services via this JAMB process”.
She noted that the criteria for the accreditation were stringent, but through the support of the University Management, they were met. “They (JAMB) came in here to do verification of what we have vis-a-vis their requirements, which are not negotiable, and we are happy we were able to meet up with these criteria,” She added.
Baring her mind on the lost of the accreditation before now, Professor Dipeolu noted that it happened at the time the University was faced with some crises. “It was the time of the crises. It was a case of the University not being in good state. When we got back on good footing, we went back to meet JAMB to continue where we stopped”.
Professor Dipeolu also said that the University is meeting with JAMB regularly, to discuss staff support for the CBT Examination. She noted that to JAMB as it were now, the CBT is almost semi-autonomous in terms of what they (JAMB) need, but reiterated that FUNAAB is “More than equal” to provide JAMB with the necessary support required from the University.
Speaking on the similarity of the CBT to FUNAAB examinations, the University Don revealed that presently, CBT examination in FUNAAB is mainly focused on courses with large classes, but noted that each discipline would determine if it wants its course to be CBT or not.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic who disclosed that the University does not impose on Colleges to go the CBT way, however said any College(s) that is interested in conducting its examination by CBT will be supported by the University.
Cross-section of candidates during a CBT Examination in the University
According to her, “Even in some Colleges that refused to do this CBT, nobody can fault them as long as their results will come out on time and there is good integrity for the process of the examination and marking”.
She added that everything about the University’s examination has to do with flexibility, based on what the Colleges want and “above all, we are doing well with the facilities we have on ground,” she concluded.