Abuja, Nigeria — The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, don talk say di high failure rate for di 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) na clear sign say di government’s anti-malpractice measures dey pay off. Dis statement happen as di Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) release results wey show say nearly 1.5 million candidates fail to pass di minimum score of 200 marks.
Out of di 1,955,069 candidates wey sit for di 2025 UTME, only about 420,000 score above 200. Dis mean say more than 78 percent of di candidates no fit meet di threshold. Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Alausa say di poor performance show say exam malpractice don drop as a result of JAMB’s stronger security measures.
“Dat’s a big concern, and it’s a reflection of exams being done di proper way,” Alausa talk. “JAMB dey use computer-based testing system with strong security measures, and as a result, fraud don dey almost completely eliminated. Unfortunately, we no fit say di same for WAEC and NECO,” he add.
Alausa reveal say when he take office, dem conduct full review of di country’s examination system. As part of reforms, he announce say both di West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and di National Examinations Council (NECO) go start to move to computer-based testing by November 2025, beginning with objective papers.
“We have to use technology to fight this fraud,” Alausa continue. “Miracle centres too plenty, and dat one no dey acceptable. Students dey cheat for WAEC and NECO exams then when dem face JAMB, di level of cheating dey low. Na dis disparity we dey see now. E dey sad,” he say.
He warn say exam malpractice dey undermine academic integrity and dey demoralize di students wey dey work hard. “Di worst part of cheating na say e dey disincentivize di hardworking ones. If I dey prepare for WAEC or NECO and I know sey some classmates dey access di questions, wetin you expect? I no go wan study hard? I go just follow dem,” Alausa explain.
He emphasize say di ministry dey committed to use technology-driven solutions to bring back credibility for Nigeria’s exam and admission processes. “Our youths dey talented and energetic. Na di environment dey corrupt dem, and we dey determined to fix dat,” he conclude.
Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also react to di poor results, calling dem a reflection of di deep-rooted challenges in Nigeria’s educational system. Obi blame di alarming failure rate on neglect and poor investment in education. “Di latest JAMB results highlight di consequences of decades of underinvestment,” he talk.
Parents for Lagos don express disappointment over di results, attributing di low performance to lack of reading culture, poor quality of education, and unqualified teachers. Mr. Oluwaseun Oluwajuwon, a parent, talk sey students dey prefer social media over learning. “We parents need to pay attention to our kids,” he say.
Another parent, Mrs. Oduwole, highlight di economic issues wey dey make it difficult for students to access textbooks. “Quality of education don dey drop,” she declare. Meanwhile, Mrs. Ifunanya Bello talk about di role of unqualified teachers. “Dis na di reason why our children no dey get di sound education wey dem deserve,” she conclude.
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