3 brutal truths behind why Nigerian students keep failing JAMB exams

There is fire on the mountain, and nobody seems to be on the run. The leaders of tomorrow can no longer pass basic examinations, and therein lies the fate of the "giant of Africa".

The recently released results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have once again exposed the deepening crisis in Nigeria’s education sector. Out of nearly 2 million candidates, over 1.5 million scored below 200—a failure rate of more than 78%. This is not just an academic issue; it's a national emergency.

READ IT HERE: Over 1.5 million candidates score below 200 in 2025 UTME — JAMB

While there are countless individual and systemic factors at play, I’ll focus on three key reasons driving this issue.

1. Collapse of Educational Standards

One of the major factors behind the mass failure is the consistent underinvestment in education. Nigeria’s budgetary allocation to education remains among the lowest in Africa. Many public schools lack basic infrastructure, updated learning materials, or qualified teachers. The curriculum itself has also become outdated, failing to engage young minds in critical thinking and problem-solving.

2. School na "scam"

Our society has shifted toward anti-intellectualism. Today’s Nigerian youth are bombarded by a culture that glorifies shortcuts to wealth and fame. The growing popularity of “school na scam” rhetoric, the idolization of fraudsters and entertainers with questionable values, and politicians who forge certificates have all weakened the collective belief in the power of education.

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When students see more value in social media clout or illegal income than in studying, we lose the battle before it begins. This cultural decay shows up in the way celebrities known for poor educational values are platformed and celebrated. It shows in the normalisation of unseriousness among students who prioritise iPhones, luxury lifestyles, and peer validation over learning.

3. Mediocrity

When the JAMB cut-off point was reduced to 160, it was not just a red flag, it was an institutional failure. It seemed the system was rewarding mediocrity instead of lifting students to meet academic standards. Institutions are now adjusting standards to accommodate declining performance, and this would demoralise hardworking students and send the wrong message that excellence is no longer required.

What Needs to Change

Fixing this crisis requires action from all stakeholders. Parents must actively participate in their children's education. They should prioritise values, discipline, and learning over appearances and convenience. They must resist the urge to buy shortcuts and instead teach the value of perseverance and academic excellence.

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Teachers and School Owners must rebuild the culture of discipline and meritocracy in education. Schools should be spaces for rigorous learning, and the Government must declare a state of emergency in education. It’s time for a massive investment in teacher training, digital learning tools, modern curricula, and the enforcement of educational standards.

Finally, the society at large must stop celebrating mediocrity. We need national role models who uphold education and integrity. The 2025 JAMB results is a mirror reflecting the health of our society, and if we continue to ignore the warning signs, we risk raising a generation unfit to move the nation forward.

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