JAMB’s Broken System: The Pain and Frustration of Nigerian Students

The JAMB UTME exam, which serves as a critical gateway to higher education in Nigeria, has long been seen as the final hurdle for millions of students aiming to attend universities. However, recent events have cast a long shadow over the credibility and reliability of the exam process, leaving many candidates and their families frustrated, disillusioned, and in some cases, even desperate.

Many students have spent years preparing for the exam, attending extra classes, and sacrificing personal time in the hope of securing a high score that will guarantee their admission into the university of their choice. However, instead of celebrating their hard work, they are left grappling with disappointing results—results that, in some cases, simply do not reflect their true abilities.

The emotional toll of this situation is made even worse by the numerous technical issues reported across various centers. Candidates have shared stories of computer malfunctions during the exam, with keyboards and mice failing mid-test, leading to a chaotic and stressful experience that, undoubtedly, impacted their performance.

One such story comes from Chinweke Margret, who described her experience as nothing short of a nightmare: “My keyboard would function as usual one second and the next nothing works. My cursor wasn’t responding, and my mouse was also not functioning.” This issue left her struggling to complete her exam within the allocated time, significantly affecting her performance. Margret is not alone in this experience. For many, the frustration wasn’t just about the time spent in preparation; it was the feeling of wasted effort due to technical failures that were completely out of their control.

Others, like Miracle Nicholas, who was hoping for a score above 300, expressed disbelief and deep disappointment when they received scores well below expectations. “I still can’t believe it’s me,” he wrote, reflecting the shock and sense of betrayal many candidates feel when their results don’t reflect their hard work.

This disillusionment is made even worse when students feel the exam itself is flawed. Nguevese Emmanuella, who was aiming to study Law, shared her frustration about irrelevant questions in subjects like CRS, questioning the fairness of the test. “They brought random questions, especially in CRS. They brought questions as if I’m studying theology.” This frustration is echoed by many candidates who feel that the content of the exam, in some subjects, deviates significantly from what they were prepared for.

Beyond the technical issues and questionable content, Elora Kabby highlighted the financial strain and emotional toll of the exam. After her third attempt, despite all her preparation, she received an incredibly low score. “I know that this year, something really went wrong,” she wrote, underscoring the systemic issues that may be behind the low scores. The mental and emotional burden that candidates face after such outcomes can be overwhelming, especially when coupled with the cost of registration, transportation, and the general stress of the entire process.

The concern doesn’t just end with individual experiences. Adeniran Adeniyi called for greater accountability from JAMB, urging the institution to take proactive steps in improving the quality of the exam infrastructure. “All accredited centers should be thoroughly vetted to ensure their systems and servers are upgraded.” Adeniyi’s feedback is a critical reminder that the examination centers, many of which are ill-equipped, need urgent upgrades to prevent technical failures that negatively impact students’ futures.

With these voices rising in unison, it’s clear that something needs to change. The credibility of the exam and its fairness must be preserved if JAMB is to continue as Nigeria’s primary higher education entrance exam. The disparities in scores, the technical glitches, and the misalignment with syllabus expectations have highlighted the need for reform. Whether this means upgrading infrastructure, reviewing results, or offering compensation, the time for action is now.

Nigerian students deserve more than just an exam system that works—they deserve a system that is fair, transparent, and aligned with their academic efforts. JAMB must take responsibility for the systemic failures that have affected so many students this year and ensure that the experiences shared by candidates are addressed promptly and effectively.

As this issue unfolds, students, parents, and educational advocates must continue to raise their voices for the change that is desperately needed. After all, the future of Nigeria’s young minds depends on it.