JAMB 2025: Mass UTME Failure Sparks National Outcry and Regional Bias Claims

The release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results has ignited a firestorm of controversy across Nigeria. With over 1.5 million candidates scoring below 200 out of 400, the results have raised serious questions about the state of education in the country and the integrity of the examination process itself.

Alarming Statistics

According to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), out of the 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the exam, only 420,415 managed to score above 200. This means that a staggering 75% of the candidates failed to meet this threshold. Furthermore, less than 1% of the candidates scored above 300, highlighting a significant decline in performance compared to previous years.

Reactions from Stakeholders

The poor performance has elicited strong reactions from various stakeholders in the education sector. Educationists and parents have expressed shock and disappointment, pointing to systemic issues such as the lack of qualified teachers, inadequate preparation, and poor learning environments as contributing factors to the mass failure.

Mr. Rufus Matimoju, an educationist, remarked, “The dearth of qualified teachers in most Nigerian schools cannot be insulated from the outcome of the 2025 UTME. The quality of teachers we have in most schools is nothing to write home about.” He called for an overhaul of the teaching staff and emphasized the need for passionate educators who are committed to imparting knowledge.

Allegations of Regional Bias

Adding to the controversy are allegations of deliberate sabotage, particularly affecting candidates from the South-East region. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has claimed that the mass failure was intended to prevent South-East children from gaining admissions. Comrade Óyibo Eze, the chairman of ASUU-UNN, stated, “My office has been inundated with protests, calls, and visits by parents and the general public on this deliberate massive failure in the 2025 JAMB examination.” He threatened to initiate legal action against JAMB if the examination body fails to review the process and make provisions for restitution.

JAMB’s Response

In response to the outcry, JAMB has announced a review of the 2025 UTME results and has set up a panel to investigate the conduct of the examination. The panel, which includes key players in Nigeria’s education sector, is scheduled to convene on May 15, 2025, to appraise the examination’s conduct and identify any challenges that may have contributed to the poor performance.

Public Sentiment

The public has taken to social media, particularly X, to express their views on the matter. Prominent figures like Aisha Yesufu have criticized the Minister of Education, suggesting that if Nigeria had a proper president, the minister would have been sacked immediately. She questioned whether measures put in place to stop cheating led to the mass failure or if there was something more sinister at play.

If Nigeria had a President, the Minister Of Education would have been sacked immediately. That man came to say it was measures they put in place to stop cheating that led to the mass failure.

Wait a minute, or is it that something was actually put in place to massively fail…
— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) May 14, 2025

Another user, @TheSerahIbrahim, pointed out that a technical glitch affected the entire South-East region, raising suspicions about the fairness of the examination process.

A technical glitch that affects the whole South East.
No other geo zone has all states affected apart from South East.

The last time we heard about a glitch in Nigeria, we all know why that really happened. https://t.co/MWa9kJ2y6y
— SERAH IBRAHIM (@TheSerahIbrahim) May 14, 2025

Historical Context

Since the introduction of Computer Based Testing (CBT) in 2013, there has been a perceived decline in UTME performance, with analysts noting that the transition to CBT was intended to curb examination malpractice. However, the 2025 results represent a particularly low point, prompting calls for a comprehensive review of the education system.

Call for Action

The mass failure underscores the urgent need for reforms in Nigeria’s education sector. Stakeholders are advocating for increased funding, better teacher training, and improved infrastructure to enhance learning outcomes. Additionally, addressing allegations of regional bias is critical to restoring public confidence in the examination process.

Conclusion

The 2025 UTME results have brought to light significant challenges within Nigeria’s education system. It is imperative that all stakeholders, including the government, educators, and parents, work collaboratively to address these issues. Ensuring transparency in the examination process and improving the quality of education are crucial steps towards preventing such mass failures in the future.