KEY POINTS
- A whopping 78 percent of UTME candidates from the 2025 exam earned scores lower than 200.
- The Education Minister attributes the current low exam failure rates to JAMB’s computer-based testing system which reduces cases of malpractice.
- WAEC and NECO will start implementing Computer-Based Testing during 2025 before a complete transition by the middle of 2026.
Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa labels the significant score decline during 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination to show that government anti-malpractice policies work effectively.
JAMB data revealed UTME mass failure with 78 percent of the 1,955,069 participants who failed to obtain scores above 200 points during the exam which makes them ineligible for competitive admission.
Even with UTME mass failure, examinations have been conducted properly this year
The increased success of the examination comes from new security procedures that JAMB has implemented according to Alausa who appeared on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday.
Security measures introduced for JAMB exams created this low passing rate according to Alausa. The institution applied advanced security procedures which wiped out all cases of fraudulent or cheating efforts. The same integrity we observe in JAMB does not exist in WAEC and NECO systems.
WAEC and NECO will work towards digitalization by the year 2026
The education ministry reviewed major examination systems before starting a digital transition to prevent cheating at different levels.
The minister declared WAEC and NECO would implement computer-based testing (CBT) methods starting with objective questions to begin their transition by November 2025. The implementation of full CBT testing along with essay sections will begin in May/June 2026.
According to Alausa we need technology to combat this fraudulent activity. Unacceptable numbers of miracle centers exist across the country.
Minister warns That cheating negatively affects honest student efforts
Alausa explained that educational system credibility suffers from these practices which also hurts determined students who respect the rules.
According to him cheating creates the worst problem by driving away those who work hard, he emphasized. Knowledge of classmates who already possess exam questions will tempt me to participate with them. The path from ethical behavior to dishonesty begins when excellent students become corrupted in this manner.
The ministry maintains its dedication to implementing technology-based solutions for fighting academic misconduct to restore public trust in Nigeria’s educational evaluation processes and admission procedures.
