By OUR REPORTER
The Plateau State Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a credible, secure and malpractice-free conduct of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in the state.
Plateau State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kachollom Pyam Gang, who gave this assurance Wednesday during a press briefing.
According to her, all necessary measures had been put in place in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and security agencies to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
The ministry disclosed that Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq O. Oyedele, had personally visited Plateau State alongside heads of security agencies, religious leaders and other stakeholders to assure parents of adequate preparations for the examination.
Following the engagement, she said, JAMB rescheduled candidates’ arrival times for biometric verification as follows: 7:00 a.m. for the first session, 9:00 a.m. for the second session, and 11:00 a.m. for the third session.
The ministry explained that biometric verification would be conducted before the commencement of each examination session, stressing that no candidate would be allowed to sit for the UTME without verification.
It further advised candidates to locate their examination centres ahead of the examination date to avoid delays and confusion.
The commissioner that the examination would now be conducted in three sessions instead of four, adding that candidates initially scheduled for the fourth session would be rescheduled and duly informed by JAMB.
The government assured that, in collaboration with security agencies, adequate arrangements had been made to secure all routes leading to examination centres as well as the centres themselves.
It urged Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres across the state to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspected security threats or breaches.
The ministry also called on parents to allow their children to proceed to their examination centres, assuring that adequate security had been deployed to guarantee their safety.
It expressed optimism that the 2026 UTME would be hitch-free, orderly and successful across Plateau State.