The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) resit for candidates at affected centers. This development comes after a thorough review of the examination process, which uncovered various irregularities and malpractices perpetrated by candidates and some proprietors of schools and Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers.
According to Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, out of the 336,845 candidates scheduled to take the resit examination, 21,082 were absent. Despite the ongoing investigations, the performance analysis of the candidates has remained consistent, with a slight variation between 11% in 2013 and 34% in 2016.
The situation has been described as unfortunate, but it has also brought to light several alarming practices, including the involvement of some CBT centers in serious registration and examination malpractices. The meeting of JAMB’s Chief External Examiners (CEEs) resolved to blacklist the implicated CBT centers and prosecute their owners. Additionally, individuals who registered candidates with modified pictures and biometrics will be apprehended and prosecuted.
The meeting also expressed concern over the role of some tutorial centers in perpetuating examination malpractices and urged governments to regulate and monitor these centers to prevent the initiation of candidates into dishonest practices. On a positive note, the meeting offered candidates who were absent an opportunity to participate in the normal annual mop-up examination, which is also extended to those who missed the initial main UTME for any reason.
In a significant decision, the meeting resolved to release the withheld results of under-aged candidates who performed below the established standards, although this does not qualify them for admission. Candidates involved in “WhatsApp Runs” and other misdemeanors were advised to refrain from joining questionable groups, and the meeting emphasized that its decision is not an endorsement of candidates’ unacceptable acts.
The JAMB has also addressed the tribal/sectional narrative surrounding the examination, maintaining that the incident was not targeted at any section of the country and did not originate from any particular section. The board emphasized that such narratives risk exacerbating existing divisions within society and even the JAMB workforce.
As the educational sector continues to evolve, it is essential to address these challenges and ensure that the examination process is fair, transparent, and free from malpractices. With the release of the 2025 UTME resit results, JAMB has taken a significant step towards achieving this goal, and it is now up to the candidates, schools, and CBT centers to uphold the highest standards of integrity and honesty.
