Nigerians Call on New JAMB Registrar to Fix UTME Challenges | CBT centre, Result-checking, and Low cut-off mark

Nigerians have outlined a series of expectations for the incoming Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), urging urgent reforms in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) system, especially around CBT centres, result access, and admission policies.

The calls were made by different education stakeholders and candidates who highlighted recurring problems affecting the credibility and smooth conduct of examinations.

Nigerians Call on New JAMB Registrar to Fix UTME Challenges

“UTME still faces credibility concerns” – Agbor Victor

One respondent, Agbor Victor, said JAMB continues to struggle with issues of credibility, pointing to technical failures during examinations and allegations that the board is more focused on revenue than standards.

He also noted that inconsistent procedures, sudden policy changes, and poor complaint handling have weakened public confidence in the system.

According to him, the new registrar should prioritise rebuilding trust by strengthening exam integrity, ensuring stable processes, and making admissions more transparent and merit-driven.

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“Candidates face rigid systems and poor access” – Elijah Aderemi

Elijah Aderemi focused on accessibility challenges, stressing that many candidates find it difficult to recover lost phone numbers or email addresses linked to their JAMB profiles.

He also argued that making biometric verification compulsory for minor corrections creates unnecessary stress and delays for students.

He suggested that while security remains important, simpler updates like course or institution changes should be possible through less demanding verification methods.

“Transparency and fairness must improve” – Esther Olatimehin

Esther Olatimehin highlighted repeated technical glitches during UTME, poor complaint resolution, and frequent policy changes as major concerns.

She added that many candidates spend heavily on registration and CBT logistics, only to face avoidable disruptions.

In her view, JAMB should also create stronger communication channels to allow students to report issues more easily and get timely responses.

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“Admission process needs stability” – Samuel Tobiloba

Samuel Tobiloba called for a more stable and student-friendly admission system, stressing that frequent changes in guidelines confuse candidates.

He said technical challenges during examinations and result processing must be addressed urgently to restore confidence.

He also suggested extending the validity period of UTME results beyond one year and tackling admission racketeering, especially in highly competitive courses.

“Reduce financial and technical burden on candidates” – Taiwo Akanbi

Taiwo Akanbi urged reforms in SMS-based result checking and profile code services, describing them as expensive and unreliable.

He recommended stronger online systems and clearer guidelines for CAPS, including published cut-off marks and admission quotas.

He also suggested that examinations should be better spaced to reduce congestion and improve coordination across centres.

“Quality of questions and system integrity matter” – Midé Gbádégẹṣin

Midé Gbádégẹṣin expressed concern over recurring technical problems during exams, referencing past incidents where thousands of candidates were affected by glitches.

He stressed that Nigeria has the capacity to run a smoother system but lacks consistent commitment to doing so.

He also warned against lowering exam standards, saying it could negatively affect the quality of graduates produced by tertiary institutions.

“Data correction process is too stressful” – Akinwunmi Edward

Akinwunmi Edward criticised the current correction process on the JAMB portal, which often requires candidates to travel long distances for biometric verification.

He said this exposes students—many of them teenagers—to unnecessary security risks and financial strain.

He recommended that less sensitive changes, such as course adjustments, should be handled remotely through secure digital verification systems.

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“CBT centres need stricter regulation” – Olajide Olawale

Olajide Olawale raised concerns about the quality of CBT centres, noting issues such as faulty computers, poor internet connectivity, and inadequate power supply.

He said these challenges often disrupt examinations and negatively affect candidates’ performance.

He urged JAMB to enforce stricter accreditation standards and suspend centres that fail to meet basic requirements until they are fully compliant.

“Result checking system is too costly” – Olanrewaju Fadlulah

Olanrewaju Fadlulah criticised the reliance on SMS for checking results, describing it as expensive and unreliable due to frequent network issues.

He suggested that JAMB should adopt cheaper and more accessible alternatives, such as email delivery or an online portal for results.

He said such improvements would reduce financial pressure on candidates and make the process more efficient.

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“Centre allocation and cut-off marks need review” – Ishola Demola & Enyinda Galoti

Ishola Demola urged improvements in CBT centre conditions, quicker result release, and a review of the current cut-off mark, which he described as too low.

He argued that higher standards would encourage better academic performance among candidates.

Similarly, Enyinda Galoti raised concerns about candidates being assigned to distant examination centres, suggesting that proximity should be considered for safety and convenience.

He also warned that lowering cut-off marks may reduce academic motivation and affect national educational standards.

Across all submissions, Nigerians expressed a shared demand for reforms that would make JAMB more transparent, efficient, and candidate-friendly.

The expectations for the new Registrar include better CBT centre regulation, improved digital systems, reduced costs for candidates, and more stable admission policies.

Ultimately, stakeholders say restoring confidence in UTME will depend on how quickly and effectively these long-standing issues are addressed.