On Monday, May 5, JAMB revealed a disturbing statistic: 78.5% of the 1.96 million candidates who sat the 2025 UTME scored below 200 out of 400. Only 21.5% surpassed the 200 mark, while a mere 0.63% scored 300 or higher.
JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede’s announcement triggered widespread backlash, especially on X, where users pointed to a crumbling education system and flawed examination logistics.
@OgbeniDipo wrote, “75% of the candidates scored below 200 in JAMB examination. Not surprised. A generation that spends more than half their time on TikTok will never be able to score above 50% in any examination. Further fuelled by ‘school na scam’ comments from dumb seniors.”
The pattern isn’t new. In 2024 and 2022, over 76% also failed to hit 200, highlighting a persistent trend of underperformance.
Travel Burdens and Tragic Consequences
Candidates faced long-distance travel to exam centres, often under tight schedules and poor conditions. Some were asked to arrive as early as 6:30 a.m., causing fatigue and stress.
@Naija_PR criticised this system: “JAMB has overstayed its relevance. The first step is to cancel the idea of posting students to exam centres further than areas they live… May all those who needlessly lost their lives… REST IN PEACE.”
Reports of accidents, kidnappings, and disappearances emerged, though not officially acknowledged by JAMB. These logistical missteps likely worsened candidates’ performance.
Deep Structural Decay
Nigeria’s chronic underinvestment in education has left public schools with crumbling infrastructure and insufficient staff.
With only 6% of GDP spent on education, far below the 15–20% UNESCO recommendation, students are left unprepared for rigorous assessments like UTME.
@PoojaMedia posted, “1.8m wrote JAMB. 1.4m scored below 200. This is a big problem & worrisome. A generation that loves shortcuts, dwells in drugs, prefers bangers, and quick money & so on.”
But not everyone agrees with blaming students. One user countered: “Are the learning environments conducive enough…? How would someone who missed the last 3 square meals pass an examination?”
Students, particularly in rural areas, face poor access to electricity, internet, and learning materials—making it even harder to tackle JAMB’s computer-based format.
READ ALSO: 2025 UTME: Only 420,515 Out of 1.9m Candidates Scored Above 200 — JAMB
Malpractice, Pressure, and Misaligned Content
JAMB reported 97 confirmed cases of malpractice, with over 2,100 under investigation. These figures reflect desperation in a system with just 500,000 university spaces for nearly 2 million candidates.
Critics also question the exam’s relevance. Students face a syllabus often disconnected from what is taught in classrooms, and compulsory texts like The Lekki Headmaster remain inaccessible to many.
What Can Be Done?
To salvage the system, experts and the public have suggested reforms:
Fix Logistics: Assign candidates to nearby centres and scrap unrealistic 6:30 a.m. check-ins.
Boost Funding: Raise the education budget to at least 15% of GDP to fix infrastructure and hire teachers.
Align Curriculum: Match JAMB content with what’s actually taught in schools.
Support Vulnerable Students: Offer free materials, feeding programmes, and scholarships.
Expand Vocational Paths: Promote polytechnics and technical colleges as viable options.
Crack Down on Cheating: Use technology to curb malpractice, while tackling its root causes.
Fight Anti-Education Narratives: Use influencers and educators to promote the long-term value of learning.
A Shared Burden
As one X user put it, “Does Nigeria have the capacity to admit the 24% that scored above 200?” The challenge isn’t just about scores—it’s about building a system where every student has a chance.
Fixing Nigeria’s education crisis demands urgency, vision, and unity. The future of millions, and of the country itself, depends on it.