National Alarm as JAMB Summons Crisis Meeting Over 2025 UTME Mass Failure
14 May 2025 By: IDNN Education Desk
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will hold an emergency review summit on Thursday, May 15, in Abuja, bringing together top education stakeholders to investigate widespread failure in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The unprecedented move follows intense criticism and protests after 1.5 million out of 1.9 million candidates scored below 200 — less than 50% of the total score. Outrage from students, parents, and school owners has snowballed, with many citing irregularities and possible technical errors.
Who’s Attending the Review?
The summit will include:
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Vice Chancellors of Federal and State Universities
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Rectors of Polytechnics
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Provosts of Colleges of Education
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Principals of secondary schools
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Examiners and EdTech experts from the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria
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National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools
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The Educational Assessment and Research Network
A notice seen by The PUNCH noted that the panel would operate at no cost to the board and will evaluate all stages of the examination: registration, exam integrity, and result computation.
UTME Performance Breakdown
| Score Range | Number of Candidates | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 300+ | 12,414 | 0.63% |
| 250–299 | 73,441 | 3.76% |
| 200–249 | 334,560 | 17.11% |
| 160–199 | 983,187 | 50.29% |
| 140–159 | 488,197 | 24.97% |
| 100–139 | 61,239 | 3.13% |
| Below 100 | 2,031 | 0.10% |
These figures have amplified public demand for transparency in JAMB’s marking system. Many candidates have rejected their results, and legal threats are mounting.
JAMB: “This Isn’t Unusual”
JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, acknowledged “errors” during a Tuesday press briefing, stating, “What should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors.”
Despite the outrage, Oloyede insisted that the performance trend is consistent with previous years:
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76% scored below 200 in 2024
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78% scored below 200 in 2022
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Only 0.06% scored 300+ in 2021
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, framed the mass failure as proof of reduced malpractice due to tougher anti-cheating protocols. “This outcome reflects our integrity drive,” he said.
Technical Glitches, Lawsuits, and Demands for Redress
Candidates and parents have accused JAMB of scoring irregularities, pointing to server failures, misassigned subjects, and centre-specific challenges.
Over 8,000 complaints have reportedly been filed. JAMB has promised to reschedule exams for any candidates affected by technical disruptions — but no formal plan has been released yet.
📸 Graphic Caption: UTME shocker: Over 75% of candidates score below 200. JAMB calls urgent review with VCs, rectors, principals, and exam tech experts.
Tags: UTME 2025, JAMB Results, Education Reform, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, UTME Mass Failure, Nigerian Tertiary Education