Abuja, Nigeria – In a groundbreaking policy shift aimed at expanding access and reducing examination anxiety, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that starting in 2027, candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will be allowed to use their personal computers (laptops) to take the test.
The announcement, made by the JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, during a strategic workshop on examination technology in Abuja, signals a major departure from the current model where candidates must travel to designated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.
How the New System Will Work
Under the proposed “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy, candidates will install a secure, proctored JAMB application on their personal laptops. The software will lock down the device during the exam, preventing access to the internet, files, or external storage devices. The test will then be delivered directly to the candidate’s machine.
Professor Oloyede explained that this initiative is designed to:
Decongest CBT centres – Reducing the logistical nightmare of moving millions of candidates to limited locations.
Lower candidate anxiety – Allowing students to take the exam in a familiar environment, such as their school computer lab or home.
Reduce operational costs – Minimising JAMB’s expenditure on hardware maintenance and centre accreditation.
Strict Conditions and Security Measures
While the policy is innovative, JAMB has outlined strict conditions to prevent malpractice:
Device Specification: Only laptops (not smartphones or tablets) with a minimum of 4GB RAM, a functional webcam, and a microphone will be permitted.
Secure Browser: JAMB will release a proprietary “examination OS” that candidates must boot from a USB drive, effectively converting their personal PC into a JAMB terminal for the duration of the test.
Live Proctoring: The laptop’s webcam and microphone will monitor the candidate for any suspicious behaviour, including looking away from the screen or the presence of another person in the room.
Pre-Exam Validation: Two months before the exam, candidates must take their laptops to accredited JAMB state offices for a mandatory hardware and software compatibility test.
Mixed Reactions
The announcement has elicited divided opinions.
Tech-savvy candidates have hailed the move. “This is the future,” said David Okonkwo, an undergraduate aspirant in Lagos. “I practice all my mock exams on my laptop. Taking the real UTME on it will feel normal, not like a military interrogation.”
However, education stakeholders and parents have expressed concerns over equity. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) warned that the policy could disenfranchise rural candidates.
“What about the brilliant girl in a village without electricity, let alone a laptop?” asked Comrade Bamidele Ojo, a NANS spokesperson. “JAMB must provide a free-to-use option at public centres. Otherwise, this will become an exam for the rich.”
Professor Oloyede responded to these fears, stating that traditional JAMB CBT centres will remain operational for the foreseeable future as a backup. “No candidate will be forced to use their personal computer. Our public centres will still be available, but we anticipate that by 2030, over 70% of candidates will prefer the BYOD option.”
The Road to 2027
JAMB has set a two-year roadmap:
2025: Public sensitisation and pilot testing in 50 selected secondary schools.
2026: Full-scale mock examination with BYOD across all states.
2027: Official launch of the BYOD policy for all UTME candidates.
As Nigeria pushes towards a more digital education framework, the 2027 UTME looks set to be remembered as the year the exam left the dedicated hall and entered the candidate’s own backpack.
