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By: Manoah kikekon
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| Bola Tinubu and Tunji Alausa |
Education Minister Tunji Alausa has revealed that President Bola Tinubu’s strict anti-malpractice policy led to the alarming failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), where only 21% of candidates scored above 200 out of 400.
Out of 1,955,069 students who sat for the exam, a mere 420,000 met the 200-mark threshold required for most tertiary institution admissions. The minister attributed the poor performance to the government’s crackdown on exam fraud, insisting that previous high pass rates were inflated by widespread cheating.
In an interview with Channels TV, Alausa praised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its computer-based testing system, which he claimed has eliminated malpractice.
"JAMB’s exam is now fraud-proof, unlike WAEC and NECO where ‘miracle centres’ still operate,” he said. “Students who cheated in the past are now exposed. This is the reality of a credible system.”
However, education analysts and stakeholders have dismissed Alausa’s claims as a diversionary tactic, arguing that systemic issues—such as teacher shortages, outdated curricula, and poor infrastructure are the real culprits.
Northern states also faced month-long school closures during Ramadan, further disrupting preparations. Experts say these factors, not just exam malpractice, contributed to the mass failures.
With millions of candidates now at risk of missing university admission, calls for comprehensive education reform are growing. Critics urge the government to address root causes rather than scapegoating students.
“If 80% failed, the problem isn’t just cheating it’s a broken system,” said education activist Amina Bello. “The government must act fast.”
As pressure mounts, the Tinubu administration faces a critical choice: double down on its integrity policy or overhaul Nigeria’s crumbling education sector before the next UTME disaster.