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JAMB, Vice Chancellors Set to Review Controversial UTME Results Amid Mass Failure Outcry

By Achimi muktar 

A storm is brewing in Nigeria’s education sector, and at the centre of it is the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Following a wave of outrage over mass failure in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), JAMB has called an emergency review meeting for Thursday with top education stakeholders to address what many have described as “disgraceful” and “inconsistent” results.

The high-stakes meeting will bring together vice-chancellors, provosts, rectors, school principals, top examiners, and technical experts to dissect what went wrong—and why over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200 out of 400, a trend that has sent shockwaves across the country.

A notice obtained in Abuja confirmed that the panel would include representatives from the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, and the Educational Assessment and Research Network, among others.

“We’re Not Buying It” – Candidates, Parents Cry Foul

For many candidates, the results released last Friday didn’t just fall short—they crashed. With technical glitches, incomplete questions, and sudden crashes during the examination, candidates and parents have flooded social media and JAMB offices with complaints, alleging foul play and demanding transparency.

One candidate, @Pennyfabz, voiced her frustration online: “Dear @JAMBHQ, Something is wrong with my result. I can’t go from 285 to 156. Please look into this matter.”

Another parent added, “We demand a remark. These are brilliant students. Many experienced technical issues. JAMB cannot sweep this under the rug.”

Over 8,000 candidates have already lodged formal complaints, citing everything from system freezes to incomplete exam questions. Some are threatening to sue.

Mass Failure or Malpractice-Free? JAMB and FG Defend Results

Despite the uproar, JAMB insists there’s no foul play—just a crackdown on cheating. Speaking on Monday, JAMB’s spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin admitted to receiving “unusual complaints” from a few states but maintained that the board’s systems are being rigorously reviewed.

“The performance statistics are not peculiar. They align with trends from the past 12 years,” said Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB’s Registrar.

Indeed, history backs his claim:

In 2024, 76% scored below 200.

In 2022, 78% failed to hit the 200 mark.

In 2021, only 0.06% scored above 300.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, doubled down on the government’s stance, stating the failure rate is “proof that anti-malpractice measures are working.”

But Not All Doom and Gloom: A 15-Year-Old Breaks Records

Amid the controversy, a shining light emerged. Afolabi Ayodeji, a 15-year-old student from Icons Comprehensive College, Akure, stunned the nation by scoring 370 out of 400—the highest UTME score recorded since the introduction of the computer-based format in 2013.

His scores?

Mathematics – 98

Physics – 98

Chemistry – 94

Use of English – 80

“I didn’t set out to break records,” Ayodeji humbly said. “I just wanted to give my best. I thank God, my parents, and my teachers for believing in me.”

The Big Questions Ahead of Thursday’s Review

As JAMB prepares to host education leaders in a no-holds-barred review session, the pressure is on to answer key questions:

Were technical issues widespread enough to warrant mass re-marking or rescheduling?

Is Nigeria’s education system failing its students—or finally cleansing itself of malpractice?

Can JAMB regain public trust?

For now, thousands of students are in limbo, and the integrity of one of Nigeria’s most important exams hangs in the balance.