The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has attributed the significant drop in candidates’ performance in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to the heightened security and integrity of the examination process.
Speaking in an interview on Tuesday, Alausa explained that the results from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) should not be seen as a national disappointment but rather as an honest reflection of academic readiness when exams are conducted without compromise.
“This is the first time we’re seeing a systemu where cheating has been drastically curtailed,” Alausa said. “JAMB has invested heavily in computer-based testing (CBT) technology and security protocols, ensuring that malpractice is almost entirely eliminated.”
The minister further highlighted the uneven playing field created by the absence of similar anti-malpractice structures in other national examinations such as those conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
“In WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and other examination bodies, malpractice persists through manual processes and what are known as ‘miracle centres’. This must come to an end,” he stated.
To address the issue, Alausa disclosed that the ministry conducted a comprehensive review of the nation’s examination systems shortly after he assumed office, setting up a committee tasked with recommending sweeping reforms. The committee’s report, according to him, is due within days.
Nationwide Transition to Computer-Based Testing
In a decisive policy shift, the minister confirmed that by November 2025, both WAEC and NECO would begin migrating their examinations to CBT platforms, in alignment with JAMB’s model.
“We must deploy technology to defeat examination malpractice. By 2027, all national examinations—including WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS—will be fully computer-based,” he announced.
Alausa warned of the damaging consequences of exam malpractice on the education sector, arguing that it discourages diligence and undermines meritocracy.
“If you allow cheating, you disincentivise hardworking students and turn good ones bad. We are committed to eliminating that culture. There will be zero tolerance for exam malpractice in Nigeria going forward,” he declared.
CSO Applauded for Advocacy on Exam Integrity
In light of these reforms, the minister commended the consistent advocacy efforts of education-focused Civil Society Organisations, particularly Exam Integrity Nigeria, whose campaigns for transparent and credible examination processes have, according to Alausa, played a pivotal role in drawing national attention to the issue.
“The work of organisations like Exam Integrity Nigeria has been invaluable. Their tireless campaigns over the years helped create the momentum for these reforms, and we are grateful for their partnership in restoring integrity to our education system,” the minister noted.
His remarks come amid intense public debate surrounding the credibility of national examinations after data fromEducation the 2025 UTME revealed that over 1.5 million of the 1.95 million candidates scored below 200—a statistic many experts argue is a sobering reflection of Nigeria’s academic preparedness when integrity is enforced.
