The 2025 result of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) released recently has attracted mixed reactions from Nigerians and other stakeholders in the education sector due to the reported mass failure in the examination. According to JAMB, out of the 1,955,069 applicants who took the examination, only 420,415 candidates scored higher than 200. By implication, more than 1.5 million did not meet the threshold. Of the lot, less than one per cent of the candidates scored higher than 300, while 75 per cent of the candidates scored lower than 200.

Not less than 2,157 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME are currently under investigation for alleged examination malpractices. Only 467 of the 40,247 underage candidates permitted to take the examination met the exceptional ability threshold, representing just 1.16 per cent of that group.

The result has expectedly attracted diverse reactions from Nigerians and stakeholders in the education sector. The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, said the performance statistics for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination are in line with results recorded over the past 12 years. To Oloyede, there is nothing unusual about the outcome of the examination. Similarly, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, attributed the high failure rate in the examination as clear evidence that the government?s anti-malpractice measures are yielding results, especially within the JAMB system. The minister also said the drop in performance reflected 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. 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 stated. However, the former governor of Anambra State and the 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, expressed deep concern over the poor performance in the examination, and described the outcome as a reflection of Nigeria?s deteriorating education system.

No matter the perspective from which the result is viewed, it is a sad commentary on the standard of education in the country and one of the worst performances by candidates in recent times. Therefore, it is unacceptable. The result calls for interrogation of the teaching and learning processes in the country. For long, education has not been given priority attention in the country. Consequently, adequate teaching and learning environments have been missing, especially at state and private school sectors. There is gross shortage of qualified teachers and learning aids. The few teachers in service are not adequately remunerated. To worsen matters, some if not most of the teachers are not Information and Communication Technology (ICT) compliant. Therefore, it will be difficult for them to impart what they do not possess.

The 2025 UTME result has underscored the need for hard work in fixing the education sector. No doubt, the result highlights the consequences of decades of underinvestment in education, a sector that should be central to the national development agenda. It is good that education is in the concurrent legislative list in the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, which means that the federal and governments are involved in improving the fortunes of the sector. Going forward, priority attention should be accorded the sector considering its importance in national development. Education is a purposeful activity aimed at achieving goals such as the transmission of knowledge, skills, and moulding characters. It socializes children into society by instilling cultural values and norms, equipping them with the skills necessary to become productive members of the society. In doing so, it stimulates economic growth and raises awareness of local and global problems. Education is for total development of the recipients. Any nation that neglects the education of its youths will pay dearly for it.

There is need to question the current education process in the country. Budgets for the sector need to be increased and allocations released promptly. Teaching needs to be professionalized and made competitive as other professions in salaries and emoluments. Efforts should be made to ensure that JAMB candidates are exposed to computer literacy early enough. Many of the schools in the rural areas should be equipped with computers and internet facilities.

The examination body should equally do more of appropriate testing, considering the ages of the students. Adequate preparations should be made for the examination to avoid putting the candidates and their parents under undue stress. Enough time needs be given for preparing for the tests in terms of period for selling the forms and sitting for the examinations. JAMB should go back to its basic function, which is the harmonisation of admission processes, not revenue generation. We call for improvement in the conduct of the UTME. (The Sun Editorial)

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