A staggering 1.5 million out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scored less than 200. According to the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), only 420,415 candidates scored above 200, representing a mere 21.5% of the total number of candidates.
The statistical analysis revealed that 75% of candidates scored below 200, with less than 1% scoring above 300. This raises concerns about the preparedness of students for tertiary education and the effectiveness of the education system.
JAMB also reported that 40,247 underage candidates were allowed to demonstrate exceptional abilities, but only 467 (1.16%) achieved scores meeting the threshold. The performance of these candidates in subsequent stages is still pending.
The board noted that 97 candidates were involved in exam infractions, while 2,157 others are under investigation for suspected malpractices. Additionally, 71,701 candidates were absent from the examination.
Some results, including those of blind candidates and others in the Joint Examination Oversight Group (JEOG) category, are still being processed. A press conference to announce individual results and facilitate result checking will be held later this week.
The UTME results have sparked discussions about the state of education in the country, with many stakeholders calling for reforms and improved teaching methods to enhance student performance.
