JAMB, Varsity Heads Set to Review UTME After Alarming Mass Failure… The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will meet with vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities this Thursday to address widespread concerns over the high failure rate recorded in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The emergency meeting comes after the release of results revealed that a staggering 76 percent of candidates scored below 200 out of a possible 400 marks, raising serious questions about the integrity of the examination process and the preparedness of students.
According to JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, a total of 1,842,464 candidates sat for the 2025 UTME. However, only a fraction of that number achieved what is typically considered a competitive score. The scale of the poor performance has prompted widespread outcry from stakeholders across the education sector — including parents, school administrators, education advocates, and even policymakers — who are now demanding an overhaul of the current examination system.
Among the major concerns raised are the recurring technical challenges encountered at several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres. Multiple candidates reported issues ranging from system crashes and software glitches to biometric verification failures and power outages, all of which disrupted the examination process. In some cases, candidates were unable to complete their exams due to these setbacks.
An investigation by various education-focused outlets has also revealed lapses in infrastructure and logistics at several CBT centres. Some centres reportedly lacked basic facilities such as stable electricity and internet access, while others failed to meet JAMB’s accreditation standards but were allowed to operate regardless. Educators have warned that unless stricter monitoring and better technology are put in place, the integrity of the examination will continue to be compromised.
In addition to the mass failure, JAMB has withheld the results of 64,624 candidates pending further investigation into alleged examination malpractice and other irregularities. The board emphasized that it is committed to ensuring fairness and transparency in the examination process, and has vowed to thoroughly probe these infractions before taking further action.
To address these challenges, Thursday’s meeting will serve as a critical platform for JAMB and university vice-chancellors to reassess the current examination framework, identify systemic weaknesses, and chart a path forward. It is expected that the review will touch on key areas such as candidate preparedness, digital infrastructure, CBT centre accreditation, and examination security.
Many stakeholders are also calling for a return to basics in the Nigerian education system. Beyond just improving exam logistics, education experts argue that long-term solutions must include better teacher training, curriculum updates to match 21st-century skills, and increased funding for public schools. According to them, the UTME is merely a reflection of the deeper issues within the country’s education sector — including disparities in access to quality education between urban and rural areas.
As the academic community awaits the outcome of Thursday’s meeting, there is growing consensus that the 2025 UTME results must be a wake-up call for educational reform. Failure to act decisively, many warn, could further erode public confidence in national examinations and undermine the hopes of millions of students seeking higher education opportunities.
For now, the spotlight remains firmly on JAMB and the nation’s university leadership, as Nigerians expect not only explanations but actionable solutions to restore credibility to the UTME and uphold the future of the country’s education system.
