Following widespread outrage over the recently released 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has summoned an emergency meeting of education stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive review of the examination process.
The move comes amid a torrent of complaints from candidates and parents, many of whom have raised concerns over alleged technical glitches, inconsistent scoring, and unexpected performance drops.
The board, acknowledging what it termed “unusual” feedback, announced that vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, principals, and examiners would converge on Thursday to appraise the process and investigate claims of irregularities.
A notice obtained by Chronicle NG confirmed that the review panel would include representatives from the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, and the Educational Assessment and Research Network, among others.
“In furtherance of the commitment of the board to earn public confidence in its processes, the management of the board has approved your participation to be part of the review panel constituted to appraise the conduct of the examination with the mandate to identify challenges, if any, and proffer relevant recommendations to prevent a recurrence,” the notice read.
Of the nearly two million candidates who sat the UTME, data shows a troubling outcome: over 1.5 million scored below 200 out of the maximum 400 marks. This marks one of the lowest performance distributions in the board’s history.
The statistics paint a grim picture:
- Only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored between 320–400.
- Just 7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300–319.
- A combined 12,414 candidates (0.63%) scored above 300.
- 983,187 (50.29%) fell within the 160–199 range—widely regarded as the basic benchmark for admission.
- Alarmingly, 2,031 candidates scored below 100.
While JAMB attributes these figures to long-term performance trends, affected candidates remain unconvinced. Some have even threatened legal action against the examination body. Social media is awash with testimonies from students who believe their results don’t reflect their efforts.
“Dear @JAMBHQ, Something is wrong with my result. I’m very confident that this is not what I’m meant to get. Please look into this matter. I’m seriously comforting myself that everything is okay. Please listen to our plea. I can’t go from 285 to 156,” one candidate, @Pennyfabz, wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
A parent added, “We demand a remark from JAMB. These are exceptional students scoring below 200. Many complained of incomplete questions and other technical issues. JAMB has said nothing. This cannot be swept under the rug.”
In response, JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, stated, “We are particularly concerned about the unusual complaints originating from a few states within the federation. We are currently scrutinising these complaints in detail to identify and rectify any potential technical issues.”
He added that the board’s usual post-examination system review process—often conducted months later—had been fast-tracked due to public pressure.
The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, emphasized that the outcome was not unprecedented. “This is not peculiar to this year. The performance statistics are consistent with those of the last 12 years,” he said.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, echoed this sentiment, linking the high failure rate to the government’s crackdown on exam malpractice. “The high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination was clear evidence that the government’s anti-malpractice measures were yielding results,” he said.
Despite the overwhelming dissatisfaction, JAMB has pledged to offer rescheduled tests to candidates who can prove they faced technical disruptions. The board insists its goal remains transparency and fairness.
Amid the controversy, there was a silver lining. A 15-year-old student, Afolabi Ayodeji from Icons Comprehensive College in Akure, scored an astonishing 370—setting a new benchmark since the computer-based testing format began in 2013.
“I didn’t set out to break any record; I just wanted to give my best. I thank God, my parents, and my teachers for believing in me,” Ayodeji said.
As pressure mounts, stakeholders await the Thursday review, which could determine whether JAMB will re-score, remark, or reschedule the exams for thousands of aggrieved candidates.
