Mobile Phones Technology Cheating (MOPTEC), as SchoolGist has derived and will now call it, is on the rise again!
Reports coming in from saharareporters.com, characterized some UTME centers they monitored with mass cheating as candidates were excessively committing exam malpractice with the use of mobile devices in exam halls.
The mobile phone, which was supposed to be a device for easy communication is now the major device used for easy malpractice.
In fact, candidates no longer stretch their necks (giraffe) to peep into their colleague's answer script, calling it "OLD-SCHOOL", but rather rely on answers being sent to their mobile devices from anywhere in the country where these exam question papers have been sneaked out and are being solved by experienced tutors, teachers, parents and guardians. A special case is a young girl in Port-Harcourt, who took pride in telling us her brother in Benin sent her answers to her questions type.
To some of these candidates, peeping into their colleagues' booklet could spell doom since Jamb uses a "TYPE", now "COLOUR" system to randomize questions and answers in every script. This time around, they just wait to receive SMS alert of answers and within 10 Minutes of receiving the SMS, they're done with exam.
These candidates seem to always find a way of beating the system. As one technology reduces some aspects of this menace (Thumb Printing Biometric Scanners), others fuel it from another angle (Mobile phones).
Every year, JAMB tries by all means to curb exam malpractice but this time around 100% blame goes to the Corrupt Jamb Officials and Invigilators, who now collect N500 in some cases to allow candidates go in with their mobile phones and up to N2000 for an entirely undisturbed malpractice environment - As reported by some SchoolGist visitors.
We believe that if Jamb Officials are sensitized to be corruption free, these candidates will have no option than to write from their heads. At least, even if the papers are sneaked out, there will be no mobile phone to receive answers.
Post-UTME to the Rescue...
With Jamb-UTME over, candidates will now focus on Post-UTME tests organized by various candidates' schools of choice. A final test and indeed a sight of hope for the brilliant ones.
It is believed that IF YOU ARE GOOD, YOU ARE GOOD. No matter how many exams come your way, you are bound to smash and excel.
With a score of just 180 and above, majority of candidates will be allowed to sit for the Post-UTME entrance examinations for major Higher Institutions across the country.
These Higher Institutions usually known for Zero Tolerance in Malpractice and a more controlled environment, that take pride in selecting only the best, the Post-UTME test seems to be the ultimate tool in finally selecting the "Grain" from the "Chaff".
Fortunately, MOPTEC at the Post-UTME level will be put to zero.
