The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has attributed the recent mass failure in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), to the government’s success in curbing examination malpractice.
Speaking on Channels Television’s morning show, Dr. Alausa said the low scores reflect the integrity now embedded in the JAMB system due to rigorous computer-based testing and heightened security measures.
He said, “What you’re seeing is a reflection of exams being conducted the proper way. Fraud and cheating have been virtually eliminated in JAMB.”
Dr. Alausa highlighted that unlike JAMB, other examination bodies like WAEC and NECO still struggle with malpractice due to their continued use of manual systems. However, he revealed that starting from November 2025, both WAEC and NECO will transition to computer-based testing (CBT) — a move aimed at ending widespread cheating.
“We must use technology to fight this fraud. Government-run numerical centers are no longer acceptable,” he added.
The Minister criticized the current ecosystem that enables cheating in secondary school exams, only for students to encounter a stricter, technology-driven system in JAMB — where many of them then fail.
“Students cheat their way through WAEC and NECO, then sit for JAMB and can’t cheat — that’s why we’re seeing these results. It’s disheartening,” he said.
He stressed that examination malpractice disincentivizes genuine learners, as honest students feel discouraged when they see peers succeed through dishonest means.
“If I were a student waiting for WAEC or NECO, and I see others already have the questions, would I bother to study? Likely not. That’s the toxic culture we must dismantle.”
Dr. Alausa revealed a national plan to fully digitize all examinations by 2027, including WAEC, NECO, EMBRAS, and NBTEB. He emphasized the importance of creating a level playing field to restore motivation, discipline, and credibility in the country’s education system.
“Cheating is rampant in our high school exam systems. I’ve taught in both primary and secondary schools, so I know this firsthand,” he noted.
The Minister didn’t hold back in addressing what he termed the “cheating ecosystem,” which includes students, parents, and invigilators, saying the Ministry is committed to breaking it entirely.
“I don’t mind washing our dirty linen in public — it’s how we grow. JAMB is now almost 100% fraud-free. But NECO and WAEC are still riddled with malpractice, and that’s what we’re tackling head-on.”
He concluded by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to producing a generation of Nigerian students who succeed through merit.
“Our youth are brilliant and full of potential. But the environment they grow in must reward hard work, not shortcuts. We’re making progress, and we will be relentless in this fight.”
