The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ben Kalu, has emphasized that the integrity of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) must not be compromised by technical lapses or human error. This statement comes in the wake of the 2025 JAMB Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) technical crisis, which has shaken public confidence in the nation’s educational system.
The 2025 UTME was marred by technical glitches, resulting in a mass failure of candidates. The examination body later attributed the failure to a technical issue, sparking widespread outrage and frustration among candidates and their families. Many questioned the credibility of the examination process, demanding answers and action from JAMB.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Kalu stressed that the technical glitch was not a failure on the part of the candidates, nor a deliberate act of sabotage, but a preventable human error within the system. He said:
“To the affected candidates: your frustration is valid, and your voices have been heard. The integrity of our national examinations must never be compromised by technical lapses or human error.”
Kalu called on JAMB to commission an independent, transparent audit of its entire examination infrastructure. This audit, he said, should involve external professionals, system engineers, and academic measurement experts to scrutinize every aspect of the Computer Based Test (CBT) engine, question delivery, answer validation, and result collation processes.
The Deputy Speaker Kalu, emphasized that the mass outcry that followed the release of this year’s results demands not only transparency but decisive action to restore faith in the educational system. He commended the swift apology of JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, but noted that it did not erase the trauma, disruption, and uncertainty experienced by the young people and their families.
Kalu stressed that JAMB must implement stronger deployment validation protocols and real-time monitoring mechanisms to prevent recurrence. He said:
“The examination body must also implement stronger deployment validation protocols and real-time monitoring mechanisms to prevent recurrence.”
By taking these steps, JAMB can restore public confidence in the UTME process and ensure that the integrity of the examination is maintained.