Education Stakeholders Urge FG to Reform JAMB Amid 2025 UTME Controversies

Funmi Ogundare 

The Concerned Parents and Educators Initiative (CPE) Thursday called on the Federal Government to implement lasting solutions to the recurring challenges facing the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). 

During a webinar themed, ‘JAMB Crisis: Way Forward’, which brought together education leaders, tech innovators and parents, the session addressed public outrage over the 2025 JAMB results, which have been marred by allegations of mass failure, regional disparities, and technical failures in the computer-based testing (CBT) system.

They called for the adoption of multiple examination windows, including conducting UTME more than once a year (biannually) to reduce candidate pressure and allow for better performance calibration and technical preparation.

“There is the need for a transition to cloud-based Infrastructure. Upgrading to a cloud-supported architecture would improve the resilience and scalability of JAMB’s CBT systems, reduce technical failures, and ensure data security.

“Jamb also need to expand accredited CBT centre accessibility, especially in underserved rural and remote areas to reduce travel burden and increase exam inclusivity, as well as enhance system security through intelligent fraud detection algorithms and robust monitoring of CBT centres,” they stated.

The webinar featured Joshua Ozugbakun, Head of Strategy at Tuteria, and Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare. 

They outlined urgent reforms needed to restore public trust in Nigeria’s tertiary exam system and improve student outcomes.

Among the key solutions proposed were the introduction of critical-thinking based test items, better teacher training, performance analytics for schools, digital literacy programmes for students in disadvantaged areas and parental involvement in their children’s academic preparation. 

“Poor results cannot be blamed on JAMB alone,” Ozugbakun stated, calling for a national focus on teacher quality and parental involvement. 

He emphasised that outsourcing parental duties to schools has contributed to academic underperformance.

Onyia emphasised on severe infrastructure gaps and proposed public-private partnerships that would allow underused private schools to help relieve pressure on overcrowded public institutions. 

He also recommended stricter quality control for CBT centres and suggested faith-based organisations be contracted to manage underperforming public schools.

In her remarks, the Founder/Convener of CPE initiative, Yinka Ogunde, stated that she believes that implementing these recommendations will significantly improve the credibility, accessibility and effectiveness of the UTME process, ultimately strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education admission system.

“This is only the beginning. The forum is the first in a series of engagements aimed at driving sustainable change in Nigeria’s education system through collaboration with government and private sector stakeholders.

“We would appreciate the opportunity to engage further with the government in refining these proposals and exploring avenues for collaboration,” Ogunde stressed.