Dr. Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, has addressed the high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), asserting that the results demonstrate the effectiveness of anti-cheating measures implemented by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Alausa’s comments came after JAMB revealed that only about 420,000 out of 1,955,069 candidates scored above 200, meaning over 78% of students failed to meet the minimum threshold.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Alausa explained that the poor performance was a direct result of reduced cheating, thanks to the strict security protocols introduced by JAMB.
“This is a serious issue, but it signifies that the exams are now being conducted properly,” Alausa stated.
“JAMB’s computer-based testing system, coupled with robust security measures, has effectively eliminated fraud. Sadly, we cannot say the same for WAEC and NECO.”
The minister further revealed that a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s examination systems took place shortly after he took office.
As part of ongoing reforms, he confirmed that both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) will begin transitioning to computer-based testing (CBT) starting with objective papers in November 2025. Full CBT adoption, including essay sections, is expected by May/June 2026.
“We must leverage technology to combat cheating. There are far too many ‘miracle centers,’ and that is unacceptable. Students may cheat during WAEC and NECO exams, only to face JAMB, where cheating is almost impossible. This discrepancy is evident,” Alausa said.
He also highlighted the harmful impact of cheating on hardworking students. “When I’m preparing for WAEC or NECO and I know some of my classmates already have access to the exam questions, why should I continue to study hard? This is how diligent students are demotivated, and it’s something we need to put an end to.”
When asked whether the poor results were due to weak enforcement or declining academic standards, the minister acknowledged both factors but emphasized that cheating remained the primary issue.
“We are focused on improving the quality of teaching and using technology to support learning from primary to secondary education. However, the root cause lies in the widespread cheating during high school exams, particularly WAEC and NECO,” he explained.
“JAMB is now nearly free from fraud, but WAEC and NECO still face significant challenges. Our youth are bright and capable; it is the system that corrupts them. We are committed to changing that.”
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