In the wake of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, where a staggering 77% of candidates scored below 200 out of 400, stakeholders are actively engaging in discussions to diagnose and address the root causes behind this pervasive academic challenge.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) disclosed that out of over 1.9 million candidates who sat the UTME nationwide, only 8,401 managed to score 300 and above, while a significant majority—1,402,490—fell below the 200 benchmark.
This revelation has sparked widespread concern and calls for urgent interventions to salvage the quality of education in Nigeria.
Ifeanyi Onyike, Head of the Department of Mass Communication at Dominican University Ibadan, attributes the decline in academic standards to systemic issues within the education sector.
He criticises the federal government’s inconsistent policies and JAMB’s decision to lower admission cut-off marks, emphasising the adverse impact on educational outcomes.
“The decline in JAMB performance is primarily due to regulatory weaknesses,” Onyike stated, advocating for a comprehensive overhaul of educational governance and increased investment in teacher quality and curriculum stability.
Similarly, Oludotun Sodunke, President of the Association of Tutorial and School Operators, underscores economic hardships as a contributing factor to declining educational standards.
He highlights challenges such as inadequate preparation time, lack of access to educational resources, and security concerns, which hinder students’ performance.
Addressing specific issues faced during the examination, Yomi Otubela, Proprietor of Lagooz Schools, Lagos, points out technical difficulties like server disruptions that adversely impact candidates’ test-taking experiences.
To reverse this troubling trend, stakeholders propose multifaceted solutions. Bola Obe advocates for examination-focused teaching strategies that incorporate past questions into curriculum delivery.
Meanwhile, Deji Akinola suggests adjusting exam schedules to accommodate transportation challenges faced by candidates.
Dideolu Adekogbe emphasises the need for policy alignment and integrity within government agencies to curb corruption and ensure consistent educational standards.
The consensus among stakeholders is the urgent need for holistic reforms, including enhanced teacher training, improved access to educational resources, stricter regulatory oversight of examination processes, and a concerted effort to combat systemic issues plaguing the educational sector.
Punch
