Following the recent admission of errors in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, education consultant Julius Opara has called for an independent review of the entire exam process and the introduction of new accountability measures for JAMB staff and officials.
Opara described the situation which led to technical glitches affecting nearly 380,000 candidates in Lagos and the South-East as a significant blow to the integrity of Nigeria’s central university admissions exam. He emphasized that JAMB must take urgent steps to prevent a recurrence of such “humongous errors.”
Key Points from the Expert’s Recommendations:
- Independent Review: Opara urged for a thorough, independent review of JAMB’s examination process to identify and address systemic weaknesses.
- Quality Control: He called for immediate improvements in quality control, including the adoption of automated grading systems to minimize human error.
- Accountability: The expert stressed the need for clear accountability measures for JAMB officials and staff, ensuring that mistakes are not repeated.
- System Maintenance: Opara highlighted Nigeria’s general lack of maintenance culture, advising JAMB to schedule regular system updates and robust quality assurance protocols.
- Psychological Impact: He also expressed concern about the psychological effects on students forced to retake the exam, urging JAMB to consider their well-being in future planning.
Recall that JAMB arranged a resit for 379,997 affected candidates 206,610 in Lagos and 173,387 in the South-East after the technical failures. Opara concluded that while JAMB’s public apology was a step in the right direction, concrete actions and systemic reforms are necessary to restore public confidence in the examination process.