The consistent low performance of candidates in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has raised concerns about the quality of education. Stakeholders have argued that the performance would have dire implications such as universities facing pressure to maintain standards amidst limited qualifying candidates and the nation risks weakening of its human capital base. They argue that the performance of candidates also serves as an opportunity to realign priorities and reinforce collective commitment to rebuilding education system from the foundation. SIMON UTEBOR, YENAGOA, DAMOLA KOLA-DARE, VICTORIA AMADI and UDEH ONYEBUCHI report on the issues and the way out.
There was excitement among educationists and Education Ministry officials following the news that a 16-year-old Bayelsa State student, Egba Osiovie Diekime, scored an aggregate of 360 in the 2025 University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Diekime reportedly scored 79 in English; Physics, 98; Biology, 85 and Chemistry, 98.
He is an indigene of Famgbe community in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state and he is the current holder of the 2025 NCDMB/NTA Science Quiz competition/Award trophy.
He is a student of Best Breed International Schools, Okaka, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State and made 4 As and 4 Bs in WAEC’s General Certificate of Education (GCE).
A secondary school teacher, James Anglesey, who brought the performance to the notice of media practitioners, commended the parents of the teenager and described the support of the teachers and parents as commendable.
The above is one of the few commendable scores obtained by candidates in this year’s UTME organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The high rate of failure in the examination has drawn public outcry and elicited calls for urgent retooling and investment in the country’s education sector. Official statistics from JAMB covering a decade show a distressing downward performance of candidates in the examination and thus raising concern among parents and guardians.
According to statistical analysis released by JAMB, the performance of candidates in the 2025 UTME is Nigeria’s third-worst since 2016. Data show that 78.5 per cent of candidates scored below average (200 out of 400).
The worst performance over the 10-year period occurred in 2021 when 87.2 per cent of the candidates scored below 200 mark. About 1.14 million candidates obtained scores below 200 out of 400 in 2021.
The second worst performance happened in 2020 when 79.2 per cent of the candidates for the UTME exam that year, representing 1.54 million, obtained scores below 200.
The UTME is a critical prerequisite for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It tests candidates in four subjects, including the compulsory Use of English, with the other three drawn from their proposed field of study.
No fewer than 1.9 million candidates sat for the UTME and over 1.5 million reportedly scored below 200 out of the maximum 400 marks.
A total of 1,955,069 results were processed, out of which only 4,756 candidates (0.24 per cent) scored 320 and above, while 7,658 candidates (0.39 per cent) scored between 300 and 319, bringing the total for those who scored 300 and above to 12,414 candidates (0.63 per cent).
Also, 73,441 candidates (3.76 per cent) scored between 250 and 299 while 334,560 candidates (17.11 per cent) scored between 200 and 249.
A total of 983,187 candidates (50.29 per cent) got between 160 and 199, seen as the minimum threshold for admissions in many institutions.
About 488,197 candidates (24.97 per cent) scored between 140 and 159. Also, 57,419 candidates (2.94 per cent) scored between 120 and 139; 3,820 candidates (0.20 per cent) obtained between 100 and 119, and 2,031 candidates (0.10 per cent) scored below 100. Over 75 per cent of all candidates (1.5 million) scored below 200.
The consistently high percentage of candidates scoring below 200 has raised concerns about the quality of education.
Candidates react
Following the complaints that greeted the examination, many candidates have narrated their personal experiences during the UTME.
One of them, Igwe Kamsiyochukwu, who scored 245, described this year’s UTME as “excellent and dramatic”, citing numerous technical hiccups that affected many candidates.
“There were cases of omitted questions, biometric and network failures, and students being rescheduled. JAMB officials need to properly inspect centres to avoid such issues. Results should be released faster ideally within 24 hours, or sent as SMS right after the exam,” he said.
Another candidate, Toluwanimi Adeguloye, who scored 268, had a relatively smooth experience. She emphasised preparation as the key to success.
“I understand some people faced login issues, but many others didn’t and still failed. Those who didn’t pass should take responsibility, study harder and prepare better for next time,” she stated.
Olaoluwa Adeola, with a score of 175, admitted to poor preparation.
“I can’t put all the blame on JAMB. I didn’t prepare well enough. Still, JAMB should fix faulty systems and ensure no blank questions appear during the exam,” he submitted.
In a candid submission, another candidate, Korede Akin, narrated the experience of his younger brother, who scored 144.
“He didn’t read and now he’s crying that JAMB cheated him. While his system did go off, the truth is he wasn’t ready. Many students fail because they don’t study and not necessarily because of JAMB,” Korede said.
Fatima Lawal, with a score of 132, shared a similar experience and expressed regret over her lack of preparation. But she blamed part of her failure on technical challenges.
“I didn’t know how to use the computer very well, and I kept waiting for someone to guide me. JAMB should give CBT training before the exam day. The system froze at a point, and no one came to help quickly,” she said.
Blessing John, who scored 189, said her confusion with the system and lack of technical support cost her precious time.
“I wasn’t confident with the computer. I lost time trying to figure out how to navigate through the questions,” she said.
For Ibrahim Musa, who scored 156, power failure and poor coordination marred his experience.
“My computer was slow, and the mouse wasn’t responding at first. It really affected my focus. JAMB should ensure every centre is functional before assigning students there,” he said.
Minister reacts
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the high failure rate in the 2025 UTME is clear evidence that the government’s anti-malpractice measures are yielding results, especially within the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board system.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief, Alausa said the drop in performance reflects a significant decline in examination malpractice due to JAMB’s tightened security protocols.
“That’s a big concern, and it’s a reflection of exams being done the proper way,” the minister said. “JAMB conducts its exam using a computer-based testing system. They’ve implemented strong security measures, and as a result, fraud or cheating has been completely eliminated. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for WAEC and NECO.”
Alausa disclosed that upon assumption of office, the education ministry conducted a full review of the country’s examination systems. As part of broader reforms, he announced that both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council will begin transitioning to computer-based testing by November 2025, starting with objective papers.
JAMB admits errors in 2025 UTME results, tenders apology
But, JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, yesterday admitted to errors in the released 2025 UTME
Oloyede broke into tears as he apologised for the errors in the examination yesterday during a briefing in Abuja.
“I apologise for the trauma caused the candidates,” he said.
He said a total of 379,997 candidates in the five states of the South East geographical zone and Lagos were affected by the glitches in the results.
“206,610 in 65 centres were affected in Lagos and 92 centres in Owerri zone comprising of 173,387 candidates in the five states of the South East were affected,” he said.
Oloyede had earlier dismissed claims that the results were unprecedented, noting that similar performance trends have been recorded in previous years.
JAMB begins review of the UTME 2025
Following the complaints from candidates that greeted the examination, JAMB announced that it will begin a review of the 2025 UTME process today. JAMB’s intervention comes amid reports that thousands of candidates are preparing to file a class-action lawsuit against the board over the alleged irregularities.
Many of them are those claiming they encountered technical malfunctions and inconsistent question displays during the examination.
The hashtag #ThisIsNotMyResult has been trending across platforms, with candidates and parents expressing shock over the low scores.
The examination body acknowledged receiving an unusual volume of complaints regarding discrepancies in the released scores.
In a statement, JAMB said it is fast-tracking its annual system review, a comprehensive analysis of the examination process that typically occurs months after the exercise. The review encompasses three key stages: registration, examination and result release.
As part of the review, JAMB said it is engaging experts, including members from the Computer Professionals Association of Nigeria, chief external examiners who are heads of tertiary institutions, and the Educational Association and Research Network in Africa.
It asserted that if glitches are identified, appropriate remedial measures will be implemented promptly.
Candidates, numbering over 8,000, have reportedly submitted complaints regarding technical glitches experienced during the examination.
As the review progresses, JAMB has urged the public to remain patient.
Stakeholders react
CONUA: result is a wake-up call
According to the National President of the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Niyi Sunmonu, the performance index reveals a deep-rooted crisis in the educational pipeline.
He noted that the limited number of high performers and the overwhelming concentration of candidates in the lower score brackets indicate widespread issues in a number of deliverables such as curriculum delivery, learning environment, teacher quality, equitable access to quality education, mastery of CBT procedures by students, among others. These issues, he noted, would have dire implications such as universities facing pressure to maintain standards amidst limited qualifying candidates, students from underserved regions (with fewer educational resources or support systems) being disproportionately disadvantaged, and the nation risks further weakening its human capital base.
The statement reads: “CONUA views, with deep concern, the recently released summary of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results by the JAMB. The data presents, to all of us, a sobering reflection of the state of our nation’s basic and secondary education system.
“As a responsible academic union committed to principled and solution-driven unionism, CONUA is for the umpteenth time calling on all education stakeholders, particularly the Federal Ministry of Education, state governments, and regulatory bodies, to urgently: review and revamp the current curriculum to ensure it aligns with practical, 21st-century needs, invest massively in teacher training, monitoring, and accountability, bridge educational inequality by improving school infrastructure and access to learning resources nationwide, support remedial education programmes (such as pre-degrees, JUPEB, etc) at the tertiary level to cater for underprepared but promising students.
“We also advocate the strengthening of institutional autonomy in admission processes, enabling universities to innovate around remedial and foundation-year solutions to salvage talent from the lower score brackets.
“While this year’s UTME results are worrying, they also serve as an opportunity to realign our priorities and reinforce our collective commitment to rebuilding Nigeria’s education system from the foundation up,” he stated.
Psychologist seeks action after Lagos student’s suicide
The death of a 19-year-old girl in Lagos, who reportedly took her life after receiving her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results on Monday, has informed mental health professionals calling for a comprehensive approach to supporting students under examination pressure.
The candidate was identified by neighbours as Timilehin, who was described as quiet, humble and full of potential.
Timilehin, who hailed from Abeokuta, Ogun State, was living with her elder sibling in Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos State, when she took her life after she was said to have scored 190 in the just-released 2025 UTME results. The current result was lower than her previous score from last year.
A psychotherapist and founder of Emotion Compass Academy, Michael Jacob, in a media report, emphasised that a student’s academic performance should never be equated with their self-worth.
ECAN seeks return to strong education foundation
The National President of the Early Childhood Association of Nigeria (ECAN), Prof. Babajide Abidogun, stressed the need for government’s intervention in rescuing youths, starting from early childhood, highlighting the importance of early childhood development.
In a statement, he called for secondary and tertiary education reforms, urging stakeholders to look deeper to the foundational years of a child’s development, where true academic success begins.
Abidogun said without a strong foundation, interventions at later stages are mere patchwork, stressing that the high UTME failure rate is not an isolated issue, but a symptom of a deeper structural problem.
The ECAN President also sought the establishment of the Early Childhood Care and Development Education Commission, noting that it is not just overdue, but essential for the survival, stability and sustainable progress.
‘Education system needs retooling’
For Vice Chancellor African School of Economics, Abuja, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, the education system needs a thorough overhauling to forestall future recurrence. He said the results point to the need for reforms, stressing that teaching has to be incentivised to make teachers face their job squarely, not to be seeking for alternative means of making ends meet due to poor remuneration.
Adedimeji opined that the results speak to the need to retool education for high quality.
He said: “It is revealing that according to JAMB‘s data, only 12,414 candidates, representing a mere 0.63% of the total 1,955,069 candidates who sat the 2025 UTME scored 300 and above while as many as 983,187 candidates, or 50.29%, are within the 160–199 score range.
“Though JAMB has often emphasised that its results are just for ranking, and that O’Level results actually determine the academic performance of the students, the situation points to the need to rejig education to achieve better results.”
It’s a decline in education, says AFED
President of Association for Formidable Education Development (AFED), Emmanuel Orji, stressed that the result showed clearly, the decline in the country’s education.
According to Orji, the students should not be blamed for poor performance, without ensuring that things that could guarantee an enabling environment for such success are made available.
“The truth be told, the worsened economic conditions which impact on the household income has equally taken toll on the learners also. Materials for learning are very much in such supply or completely not available. Families contend with feeding and accommodation as key priorities. What about poor preparations on the part of teachers and schools. Schools are rationing staff, supplies and their likes especially the private schools, to enable them stay in business.”
