Emamuzo Iboma
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said the widespread failure in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) proves that the government’s intensified efforts to curb exam malpractice are working.
The Daily Sun newspaper says over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200 in the recent UTME, raising concerns nationwide. However, speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Dr. Alausa explained that the poor performance reflects the effectiveness of JAMB’s strict security protocols.
“That’s a major concern, but it also shows that examinations are finally being conducted the right way,” he said. “JAMB now uses computer-based testing with advanced security systems. As a result, cheating has been virtually eliminated.”
Dr. Alausa contrasted this with other exam bodies, noting that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have yet to adopt similar technologies fully.
He announced that WAEC and NECO will begin transitioning to computer-based testing (CBT) by November 2025, starting with objective sections. The full CBT format, including essay components, is expected to be in place by the May/June 2026 examination cycle.
“We must deploy technology to end this malpractice. The existence of so-called ‘miracle centres’ is unacceptable,” he said. “Students who cheat during WAEC and NECO often struggle when faced with JAMB’s secure system. That’s the imbalance we’re seeing now—and it’s deeply troubling.”
