A total of 342,483 candidates are to sit for this year's Monotechnics, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Matriculation Examination (MPCEME) on Saturday, July 11, in 780 centres across the country.

Besides, this will be the last MPCE examination to be conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) since the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), is expected to commence full operation next year.

Already, the syllabi and brochures of Universities Matriculations Examination (UME) and the MPCE are being harmonised for the examination.

Addressing the newsmen yesterday in Abuja on the forthcoming MPCE examinations, the Registrar and Chief Executive of Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor 'Dibu Ojerinde said there was increase of 10.81 percent in the number of candidates that registered for this year's examination.

He said, a total of three hundred and forty-two thousand, four hundred and eighty-three (342,483) candidates registered for the examination. This shows an increase of thirty-three thousand, four hundred and seventy (33,407) as against the number of three hundred and nine thousand, seventy-six (309,076) who sat for the examination last year or ten point eight-one percent (10.81%) increase of the number of applicants when compared with the 2008 figure".He explained further that, twenty-seven visually impaired candidates registered for this year's examination as against the seventy-one who registered for the examination in 2008.

To ensure a smooth conduct of the examination and protect the integrity of the examination, Prof. Ojerinde said the Board would collaborate with tertiary institutions that admit those candidates, hence it has mobilised sixty seven coordinating institutions and supervisors to take charge of the examination".

Acknowledging that few supervisors and invigilators encouraged malpractices in the examination in the past, the Registrar warned that, all officers engaged in the conduct of the Board's examination are held culpable for any lapses during the examination.

Warning to deal decisively with any indicted officials, he said officers and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been empowered to arrest anyone caught aiding and abetting examination malpractices and hand such person over to the police.

He announced further that the Board has blacklisted some schools and officials where cases of malpractices were recorded from further participation in JAMB examinations, adding, "I wish to stress that adequate security measures have been taken in all examination centres to check any form of examination malpractice.