A wave of frustration and concern swept across a JAMB office recently, as a group of aggrieved Nigerian parents staged a peaceful protest over what they described as “shockingly low” scores recorded by their children in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The demonstration comes in the wake of a startling report released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which disclosed that over 70% of candidates who sat for this year’s UTME scored below 200 out of a possible 400 marks. The revelation has since triggered a nationwide conversation about the credibility and transparency of the examination process.
With placards in hand and voices filled with emotion, the parents expressed deep dissatisfaction, alleging that the unusually poor results do not reflect their children's academic preparedness or prior academic records. Many of the students, they claim, had performed admirably in mock exams and in previous UTME attempts—making the drastic drop in performance both confusing and distressing.
One parent, speaking on behalf of the group, said, “We are not here to attack JAMB, we are here for clarity. We want an independent review of the marking system. These results are inconsistent with our children’s academic history.”
Another parent echoed similar sentiments, calling for transparency: “We’re simply asking JAMB to be accountable. We owe it to our children to ensure that their futures are not jeopardized by what may be a system error or deeper issue.”
The protest adds to growing pressure on JAMB to address mounting concerns over technical glitches, grading criteria, and alleged inconsistencies in the 2025 UTME results. Education stakeholders, students, and civil society groups are also beginning to weigh in, demanding urgent reforms in the examination process to restore public trust.
While JAMB has yet to release an official response addressing the parents’ demands, the protest serves as a stark reminder of the emotional toll such outcomes take on families—and the critical role transparency plays in national examinations.
