The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board,JAMB, has released the results of the recently conducted 2025 UTME resit examination for candidates at centres impacted by technical glitches.
The results indicate that of the 336,845 candidates rescheduled for the examination, a total of 21,082 others,standing at 93 percent, were absent. No reason was given for the high absence of the candidates in the rescheduled examination.
The board which released the results in a statement by its Public Communication Advisor,Fabian Benjamin,on Sunday morning, said “of the 336,845 who were eventually scheduled after isolated good sessions of the affected centres were excluded and their previously unverified candidates were added, 21,082 were absent.”
READ ALSO: Dangote pledges more investments to uplift vulnerable people
Lions Club hands over renovated dining hall to Ojo Model College
However, JAMB again, extended an olive branch to the absentee candidates by offering them opportunity to participate during the normal annual mop-up examination that is yet to be scheduled.
“This waiver is also extended to the candidates who for whatever reason must have missed the initial main UTME,”it said in the statement.
While noting the over 93% attendance at the resit examination, the meeting offered all the candidates absent an opportunity to participate during the normal annual mop-up examination. This waiver is also extended to the candidates who for whatever reason must have missed the initial main UTME.
JAMB said,”Despite the ongoing inquiries, performance analysis remains consistent (between 11% in 2013 and 34% in 2016) with results from the past twelve years.”
“While this situation is unfortunate, it has also revealed numerous alarming practices perpetrated by candidates, certain Proprietors of Schools/Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, which have exacerbated examination irregularities,”the board explained in the statement.
The release of the results came after JAMB convened a meeting of its Chief External Examiners,CEEs in all states of the federation, to consider the results.
It further explained that after consideration of the report of the resit examination, and extensive deliberations thereon,a sub-committee, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University, Prof. Olufemi Peters who is also the CEE FCT, was constituted to confirm that the results were in order and the CEEs reviewed the exercise and directed that an expert in psychometrics, Prof. Boniface Nworgu be invited to analyse and endorse the results for subsequent release.
The board said “as part of the healing process, the meeting also resolved that the withheld results of the under-aged candidates (except where litigation is involved) who performed below the established standards be released.”
“ Such result does not however qualify them for admission, as they had previously signed an undertaking during the registration process acknowledging that only those who meet the prescribed standards would be considered for under-aged special admission,”it clarified.
Another important resolution taken during the meeting, according to the board, was the release of results of candidates involved in “WhatsApp Runs” and other misdemeanours
“This category of candidates were found to have been involved in illicit solicitation of assistance. The meeting emphasised that its decision is not an endorsement of candidates’ unacceptable acts, rather a once and for all waiver. Candidates were thus advised to refrain from joining questionable “WhatsApp and other anti-social groups,”it explained.
JAMB said the meeting condemned the involvement of some CBT centres in perpetrating serious registration and examination malpractices and resolved that all the implicated CBT centres should be blacklisted while complicit owners should be prosecuted.
“In addition, the identified individuals who directly registered the candidates with modified pictures and biometrics be apprehended and prosecuted,”it said.
On activities of tutorial centres, the board said, “The meeting observed with great concern, the role of some tutorial centres in the perpetration of examination malpractices. It urged governments at all levels to take appropriate steps in ensuring that operators of tutorial centres are properly regulated, licensed and constantly monitored.This is to curtail the initiation of candidates into the path of dishonesty.”
The meeting acknowledged the significant contributions of Computer-Based Testing in diminishing instances of examination malpractice and advancing the nation towards a digital society,noting that,”Despite some shortcomings, CBT remains the viable option for ensuring a malpractice-free examination process.”
The meeting also acknowledged the detailed and rigorous processes adopted by the Board in the accreditation of CBT centres by state panels led by the CEEs.
“It was however advised that a reputable firm of management consultants be engaged to advise on improving the process of accrediting CBT centres, registration procedures, and other critical operational stages,”the board added in the statement.
JAMB said the meeting “expressed with regret the attempts by some groups to exploit the unfortunate incident to disseminate tribal and sectional narratives.”
“The unfortunate incident is not targeted at any section of the country, neither was it caused by any particular section of the country. It was emphasised that such narratives risk exacerbating existing divisions within society and even the JAMB workforce,”it warned.
According to the statement, the “meeting commended the Registrar and the Management of JAMB for the competent and sincere handling of the unfortunate accident and urged them to remain steadfast and courageous.”