UTME: Candidates, educators reveals major reasons for mass failure

UTME: Candidates, educators reveals major reasons for mass failure

For many young Nigerians fresh out of secondary school, their prospects for entrance into tertiary institutions hang on their performance in their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, however, parents, students and educator are blaming the roles played by failed computer systems, power outages and poor Internet connections, VICTOR AYENI writes

On April 19, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board commenced its 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in 774 centres nationwide, following months of preparations.

“We lack the infrastructure support that we require; there is no consistent power supply and no reliable Internet connection and we can say the system and the government have failed. It ultimately comes down to the agony that we all endure: inadequate power source.

“These children have been let down by the system but they deserve better. While it’s true that Generation Z has its moral deficiencies, ultimately the system has failed them,” she said.

Corroborating Ajimobi, another educator, Haneefa Badru, noted that the underperformance of 76 per cent of the candidates showed that the system was failing.

“I see a lot of people placing the blame of this JAMB mass failure on the kids but a system where 76 per cent of students are performing below expectations is a failing system. There needs to be a thorough investigation into why this is happening and how to mitigate the problem.

“When you find this kind of failure in an examination, it is a testament to the collective failure of parents, schools and government institutions. The problem is the system. We need a review of our educational system,” he added.

Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, an educator, Abiodun Fashina, explained that when examination candidates are subjected to pressures mounted by malfunction of computer systems or an unconducive environment, it generates anxiety and this could affect their performance.

Fashina said, “When your system shuts down for an extended period before, during or after an examination, there is a need for the body and those in charge of the centres to address the complaints immediately.

“Some of these centres are not well equipped, and then we all know the energy problem in our country. When candidates are put under unnecessary pressure or their exam environment is unconducive, it leads to anxiety in these children. Some of them in the rural areas are not that conversant with the use of systems; when the system they are using for CBT then trips off, you can imagine how that adds to their anxiety and sets them up for failure.”

Also speaking, a teacher , Jamiu Ibrahim, stated that the UTME examination was a summative assessment and as such evaluated students regardless of whether they had met its objectives or not.

He added, “In the case of JAMB, the UTME exam is a high-stakes summative assessment that determines admission into Nigerian universities. It is used to evaluate students’ knowledge, skills, and abilities at the end of their secondary education and determine their readiness for tertiary education.

“Formative assessments, on the other hand, are used to monitor student progress and provide feedback during the learning process. They are typically low-stakes and are used to inform instruction and adjust teaching strategies.”

He further stated that the UTME “is used for placement because it’s a form of placement evaluation”.

“If students fail the examination, the evaluation agency is not to be blamed because their questions are standardised,” he added.

When contacted, JAMB’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said he had no response to the claims of technical glitches and poor internet connection made by parents and candidates.

“I have no response to this,” he told our correspondent during a phone call.