Tertiary institutions submit fake A’Level results for admission, says JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has accused certain tertiary institutions of submitting students’ fake Advanced Level (A’Level) results for admission.

The board noted that some institutions do not verify the authenticity of the results used for admitting candidates, particularly those applying for Direct Entry (DE).

JAMB made this known in its weekly bulletin, which was shared by its Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, yesterday in Abuja.

The bulletin stated: “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has observed that some institutions are failing to verify the results used for admitting candidates, particularly those seeking Direct Entry.

“One of the fundamental purposes of the screening process is to ensure that only legitimate documents are used to consider and accept candidates for admission and registration. It is crucial for institutions to understand that this responsibility lies primarily with them.

“JAMB initiated the Nigeria Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (NIPEDS) approximately two years ago following an alarming report from Bayero University, Kano (BUK). The university revealed that out of 148 results it verified for admission, only six were genuine, while the remainder were fraudulent.

“NIPEDS was established to facilitate the verification of A’Level qualifications, including certificates from foreign institutions, which are required for admission into Direct Entry programmes (not O’Level qualifications).

“Through NIPEDS, JAMB has received confirmations from foreign institutions alerting them to forged certificates presented by candidates. Recently, 13 additional A’Level certificates were identified as fake after being submitted for admission consideration, with some institutions having already proposed the candidates based on these fraudulent documents. The candidates involved have been referred to law enforcement agencies for prosecution.

“Consequently, institutions that propose candidates for admission using fake certificates will be viewed as accomplices in this fraudulent activity.

“While NIPEDS is a valuable tool, it does not replace the need for institutions to conduct their own verification and due diligence.

“The most egregious example of forgery involves candidates who submitted forged Interim Joint Matriculation Board Examination (IJMBE) results from ABU Zaria in an attempt to gain admission to ABU itself.”

JAMB urged all institutions to “thoroughly verify all A’Level qualifications presented for admission, regardless of whether they were issued by their own institution or by others.”