The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has attributed the poor performance recorded in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to the federal government’s intensified efforts to combat examination malpractice.
Speaking in a televised interview, Dr. Alausa emphasized that the decline in student scores is not a reflection of diminished intelligence but rather an indication that examinations are now being conducted more transparently. He praised the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its successful implementation of computer-based testing (CBT), which he said has made it virtually impossible to cheat.
“This is not about the students being unintelligent. It’s a reflection of exams now being done the proper way,” Alausa stated. He described JAMB’s process as a secure system with little room for fraud, unlike other national examination bodies such as WAEC and NECO, which he said are still grappling with widespread malpractice.
The minister revealed that from November, WAEC and NECO will begin transitioning to CBT, with full implementation expected by 2027 across all major examination bodies, including EMBRAS and NBTEB. He maintained that technology is the key to eliminating cheating in Nigeria’s education system.
Alausa condemned the rampant exam fraud in secondary schools, blaming it for creating a system where dishonesty is rewarded and honest students are discouraged. He explained that many students who excel in WAEC and NECO often underperform in JAMB because the latter does not allow room for cheating.
“Students cheat their way through WAEC and NECO and then crash during JAMB because there’s no room for malpractice. That’s the result we’re seeing now,” he said.
He also acknowledged the emotional impact this has on students, stating that the unfairness leads many to give up on genuine effort. “If I’m preparing for WAEC and I see my peers have access to the leaked questions, why would I study? I’ll feel left behind and join them. That’s the reality,” Alausa said.
The minister described the malpractice system as an entrenched network involving students, parents, teachers, and exam officials. Drawing on his own experience as a former teacher, he expressed determination to break the cycle and reform the system.
“We have allowed this decay to fester for too long. JAMB is now a clean exam. We must do the same for WAEC and NECO. This is about building the future of our country,” he said.
Alausa reaffirmed his belief in the intelligence and potential of Nigerian students, insisting that the main problem lies in the corrupt environment around them. “Our youth are smart and full of potential. But the corrupt environment around them is the problem. We are determined to change that narrative,” he said.
The 2025 UTME results showed that over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200, sparking widespread concern and national debate.
