Nigerian students and their parents have taken to social media and the streets to express deep frustration following the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, which showed that over 76% of candidates scored below 200 out of a possible 400.
The figures, released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), have sparked outrage and disbelief, with many alleging systemic failure, poor preparation infrastructure, and technical challenges that marred the conduct of the exam.
“We Were Set Up to Fail” – Students React
“I prepared so hard, yet I couldn’t complete my exam due to network failure,” tweeted @BrightSuccess99, one of many candidates who faced technical glitches. “We were set up to fail.”
Another user, @AdaezeWrites, lamented, “How can a nation expect excellence from a broken system? Students deserve better. JAMB should be held accountable.”
Across the country, stories have emerged of failed server connections, poor computer functionality, and rescheduled exams that never held—especially at CBT centres like Greater Tomorrow in Ondo State and Batmod Hub in Ogun.
Parents, Teachers Join the Chorus of Complaint
Parents have joined their children in calling out the integrity of the examination process. Mr. Samuel Igbokwe, a father of two UTME candidates, told our reporter: “Both my kids studied day and night. Their results don’t reflect their capabilities. Something is clearly wrong.”
The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) issued a statement expressing concern over the results and urging JAMB to address the widespread dissatisfaction.
Teachers and education experts have pointed to deeper systemic issues. “You can’t expect high performance from underfunded schools and overburdened students,” said Mrs. Bukola Odewale, a secondary school principal in Ibadan.
JAMB Defends Itself
In response, JAMB maintained that the UTME is a placement test—not a pass or fail exam—and blamed the low scores on poor preparation by candidates. The Board also insisted that only a minority of centers experienced technical challenges.
“We did our part,” said a statement from JAMB spokesperson Dr. Fabian Benjamin. “The candidates must also take responsibility for their preparation.”
A Call for Reform
As the debate rages, calls for education reform grow louder. Activist and education reform advocate, @Omojuwa tweeted: “JAMB needs reform, not just on paper but in actual practice. This mass failure reflects a national failure.”
Many stakeholders now urge the Federal Ministry of Education to launch an investigation into the UTME process and initiate long-overdue reforms in curriculum, teacher training, and examination administration.
For now, the students wait—some in tears, some in defiance—wondering if their dreams of higher education have been dashed by a system they feel betrayed them.
