The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it will adopt “pin vending”  for the 2017 UTME test, advising intending candidates to get familiar with the new approach.

Dr Fabian Benjamin, the board’s Head of Media and Information, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that it would no longer use scratch cards.

“Candidates, wishing to sit for the 2017 examination, should start getting themselves familiar with the newly adopted process of pin vending by the board.

“We must make ourselves open to change like it is obtained in other climes.

“We are no longer going back to the use of scratch card; that method is outdated.

“Candidates wishing to register for the examination will just make online payment and get a pin with which they can upload their data.

“This new pin vending will be accessible through the options of web payment, ATM issued cards like Visa, Verve, and Master card, online Quick Teller, mobile application and Bank Branch case/card.’’

Benjamin assured that the board was working hard to redress all challenges experienced by candidates during its 2016 UTME as it was preparing for the 2017 diet.

He said that all hands were on deck to ensure a hitch free conduct of the examination across the country.

“Preparations are on to ensure that all the technical hitches that manifested in the 2016 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) do not arise again.

“That is not to say that the examination will be completely hitch-free.

“But we are deploying resources to correct the ones identified already.

“In the course of the examination, should there be any other new challenges, we will act promptly.’’

The spokesman also said that the board would begin validation of UTME centres across the country soon.

“We shall be going round to the proposed centres to check the state of their facilities and also to ensure that such facilities could accommodate a minimum of 250 candidates,’’ he said.

Some candidates, who sat for the 2016 examination, complained of various technical hitches.

Such challenges ranged from incomplete upload of questions from servers to poor backup facilities in some centres among others.

The board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede,  recently announced the scrapping of the use of scratch card, describing it as outdated.

He said the board decided to do away with the method because of its consistent subjection to fraudulent practices.