By John Umeh
Amid widespread concern over the unusually high rate of failure in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is set to meet with vice chancellors of Nigerian universities on Thursday, May 15, to assess the outcome of the 2025 examination and determine the way forward.
The meeting, scheduled to take place at JAMB’s headquarters in Abuja, comes in response to growing outrage from candidates, parents, and education stakeholders over what many have described as a “mass failure” in this year’s UTME. Early analysis of the results released last week shows that a significant percentage of the 1.94 million registered candidates scored below 200, with many unable to meet the minimum admission benchmarks set by tertiary institutions.
In a statement issued by JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the board acknowledged the public concern and assured Nigerians that it remains committed to transparency, accuracy, and fairness in its examination and result-processing systems. “We are aware of the reactions trailing the release of the 2025 UTME results and have invited relevant stakeholders, including vice chancellors of universities, rectors of polytechnics, and provosts of colleges of education, to a high-level meeting,” the statement read.
The agenda of the meeting includes a thorough review of the examination process, technical systems, candidate performance, and factors that may have contributed to the poor results. Stakeholders are also expected to deliberate on admission policies, possible adjustments to cut-off marks, and recommendations for improving future examinations.
Public Outcry and Allegations
Since the release of results, social media platforms and online forums have been flooded with complaints from candidates who expressed disappointment and confusion over their scores. Many allege discrepancies between their expected and actual performance, with some questioning the integrity of the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system used for the exams.
“I studied hard, practiced past questions, and was confident of scoring over 250,” said Aisha Suleiman, a candidate from Kano. “When I saw 148 on my result slip, I was shocked and devastated. Something is not right.”
While JAMB has continued to assure candidates that the results are accurate and that its systems remain secure, the board said it is open to investigating genuine complaints submitted through official channels. It has, however, warned against misinformation and attempts to manipulate public sentiment.
Academic Community Reacts
Members of the academic community have weighed in on the situation, calling for a data-driven and transparent review. Professor Emmanuel Akinwale, a former dean at the University of Ibadan, said the outcome of this year’s UTME raises red flags that require critical examination. “We need to look beyond blaming students. Was the content too difficult? Were there system glitches? Were candidates properly prepared? These are questions that must be answered,” he stated.
Some vice chancellors have reportedly suggested that the poor results could also be a reflection of broader systemic failures in Nigeria’s secondary education system, where underfunding, overcrowded classrooms, and inadequate teaching resources persist.
Looking Ahead
As the country awaits the outcome of Thursday’s meeting, there are growing calls for JAMB to publish a detailed breakdown of candidate performance across subjects, regions, and centers to allow for greater transparency. Civil society groups and education advocates are also urging the Federal Ministry of Education to commission an independent audit of the UTME process if necessary.
In the meantime, many students remain anxious about their chances of gaining admission into higher institutions this year. With most universities requiring a minimum score of 180–200 for competitive courses, a significant number of candidates may be left out unless adjustments are made.
JAMB has promised to communicate the outcome of the meeting with stakeholders and any decisions regarding admission procedures in the coming days.
