Amid growing outrage over the widespread failure recorded in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has assembled a high-level review committee to thoroughly examine how the 2025 exercise was administered and why so many students underperformed. This move comes after nationwide criticism, with parents, students, and education advocates questioning the integrity and outcome of the recently concluded examination.

Committee Formed to Investigate UTME Irregularities

A recent public disclosure by one of the committee members, Alex Onyia, revealed the board’s intention to conduct a transparent and independent investigation. Onyia, who is the Chief Executive Officer of EDUCARE, took to social media to confirm receiving an invitation to serve on the panel. According to him, the committee will begin its work on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

Onyia shared his optimism about the process and pledged to publish the review’s findings in the interest of transparency. His message resonated with many Nigerians who felt disheartened by the unexpected drop in candidates’ performance.

Panel Tasked With Comprehensive Audit

The invitation letter addressed to Onyia, sent from JAMB’s national headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, highlighted the purpose of the initiative. It stated that the board had sanctioned the review in light of public disappointment over the released UTME results. The letter emphasized the board’s commitment to accountability and a thorough audit of the testing process, which includes evaluating the examination’s structure, delivery, and result compilation.

The review panel consists of representatives from major academic and professional associations, including:

• Principals from public secondary schools nationwide

• Leaders of private school associations

• Senior examiners with years of experience

• ICT professionals from reputable tech bodies

• Experts in educational testing and research

• Heads of tertiary institutions, including vice chancellors, rectors, and provosts

This broad representation ensures that every stakeholder in Nigeria’s education system has a voice in the review process.

Unprecedented Failure Rates Raise Alarm

Statistical data from the 2025 UTME showed a sharp drop in overall student performance. Out of nearly 1.9 million candidates who registered for the exam, over 75% scored below the 200 mark—a result widely regarded as the bare minimum for admission into most universities in the country.

Many candidates, especially those who had consistently excelled in previous internal examinations, found themselves scoring far below expectations. This anomaly triggered a national conversation on the fairness and accuracy of the UTME scoring process, prompting calls for a formal inquiry.

Technical Problems and Operational Flaws Under Scrutiny

Several concerns have been raised regarding the administration of the examination itself. Among the issues cited by candidates and school officials were:

• Digital Errors: Numerous students reported being unable to complete their exams due to system crashes, login failures, or server delays in accredited centers.

• Unfavorable Exam Timing: Some students were required to arrive at exam centers as early as 6:00 AM, leading to fatigue and reduced focus during test sessions.

• Inconsistent Preparation Tools: Stakeholders also pointed to differences in mock exam formats and inadequate access to practice materials as contributing factors to poor preparation.

These concerns have fueled speculation that the problems run deeper than student competence, raising questions about JAMB’s internal processes and technological infrastructure.

JAMB Maintains Confidence in Its System

Despite the uproar, JAMB’s leadership has pushed back against claims that the 2025 exam deviated from past patterns. In a recent statement, the Registrar noted that the performance distribution was not significantly different from previous years and attributed the low scores to a broader decline in student preparedness.

However, critics argue that the board’s dismissal of the issues without first conducting an external review undermined public trust. The creation of the independent panel is now seen as a step in the right direction to restore credibility.

Expectations High for Reform Recommendations

The panel’s task goes beyond examining what went wrong—it is expected to recommend practical solutions that will improve future UTME cycles. These may include:

• Improved digital infrastructure for exam delivery

• Better training for technical and administrative staff

• A more transparent grading system

• Enhanced support for students in rural and underserved areas

• Review of syllabus coverage and content relevance

The inclusion of experienced educators and technology experts suggests that the review may lead to significant reforms in the exam’s administration.

Hope Restored for Disappointed Candidates

While thousands of candidates continue to grapple with the outcome of the 2025 UTME, the review initiative has offered a glimmer of hope. Many believe that the investigation could uncover critical flaws and open the door to changes that ensure future exams are more reliable, equitable, and reflective of students’ true abilities.

Alex Onyia, along with other members of the committee, is expected to release a detailed report of the findings after their session. The public eagerly awaits their conclusions, hoping that this review will not only clarify what went wrong but also bring lasting improvements to one of Nigeria’s most important educational institutions.

Conclusion: Toward a Transparent Testing System

The establishment of this review panel signifies JAMB’s willingness to confront the controversies head-on and fix any systemic failures in its examination process. With broad stakeholder engagement and a clear timeline, this process could mark a turning point in Nigeria’s standardized testing framework. Whether the board will act on the panel’s recommendations remains to be seen, but for now, many believe that the path toward reform has finally begun.