In brief
In a disastrous turn of events, Nigeria's unified university entrance exams revealed shocking results, with nearly 80% of students scoring below the passing threshold. Technical glitches, including login failures and missing exam questions, contributed to widespread discontent, culminating in the suicide of a promising student. The exams body, JAMB, has expressed regret and plans to allow retakes for those affected amid demands for accountability.
The body that oversees Nigeria's university entrance examinations has acknowledged a significant "technical glitch" which adversely affected this year’s test results, as nearly 80% of students scored below the passing mark. Many candidates reported being unable to access computers, missing questions, and power outages disrupting the exam process. The low success rate has sparked outrage across the nation, particularly after 19-year-old Faith Opesusi Timileyin, an aspirant for microbiology at university, tragically took her own life. Her father revealed that she had attempted the exam for the second time, scoring lower than in the previous year. Traditionally, a score of over 200 out of 400 is needed for university admission, yet only 400,000 out of 1.9 million candidates reached that benchmark this year—one of the poorest outcomes recorded. Favour Eke, another student, described her frustration when ten questions disappeared from her computer screen, instructing her to omit them while struggling to focus. Similarly, other students endured login problems, with some sharing computers with incorrect profiles, leading to significant time loss. In response, the exams body, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has publicly apologized for the "painful damage" and trauma inflicted upon the affected candidates. During a press conference, JAMB registrar Ishaq Oloyede expressed his regret, even breaking down in tears, and announced that nearly 380,000 affected candidates in 157 centers would have the opportunity to retake their exams starting Saturday. Key regions impacted include Lagos and several southeastern states where the system failed to process candidates' responses. Oloyede had attributed the poor exam performance to a crackdown on exam malpractice, insisting that the results accurately reflect the students' academic abilities. However, social media users have been vocal in demanding accountability, with activists and political figures calling for the resignation of those in charge of the examination process, warning that such incompetence amounts to "educational sabotage."
