UTME Mass Failure Proves Anti-Malpractice Measures Are Working — Minister

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has stated that the high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is a clear indication that the government’s crackdown on examination malpractice is working, particularly within the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) system.

His comments follow widespread public concern after JAMB released data revealing that out of 1,955,069 candidates who took the 2025 UTME, only around 420,000 scored above 200 — meaning over 78 percent failed to reach the benchmark.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Alausa said the decline in overall scores reflects a notable reduction in cheating, crediting JAMB’s strengthened security measures for the outcome.

“That’s a big concern, and it’s a reflection of exams being done the proper way,” the minister said. “JAMB conducts its exam using a computer-based testing system. They’ve implemented strong security measures, and as a result, fraud or cheating has been completely eliminated. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for WAEC and NECO.”

Alausa revealed that upon taking office, the Ministry of Education conducted a comprehensive review of the country’s examination systems.

As part of wider reforms, he announced that both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) will begin transitioning to computer-based testing by November 2025, starting with objective papers.

The complete Computer-Based Testing (CBT) model, including essay sections, will be implemented starting with the May/June 2026 examination cycle.

“We have to use technology to fight this fraud,” Alausa said. “There are so many ‘miracle centres’, and that is simply unacceptable. People cheat during WAEC and NECO exams and then face JAMB, where cheating is nearly impossible. That’s the disparity we’re seeing now. It’s sad,” the minister said.

He also cautioned that exam malpractice undermines academic integrity and discourages hardworking students.

Alausa said,“The worst part of cheating is that it disincentivises the hard-working ones,” he said. “If I’m preparing for WAEC or NECO and I know some classmates already have access to the questions, do you think I’ll still study hard? No, I’ll be tempted to join them. That’s how good students are corrupted, and that’s exactly what we must stop.”

Alausa emphasized that the ministry is dedicated to leveraging technology-driven solutions to restore credibility to Nigeria’s examination and admissions processes.