JAMB 2025 UTME Results– Over 21,000 Candidates Absent
JAMB announces the release of rescheduled UTME results for 2025, revealing over 21,000 absentees. The development sparks concern about technical issues and student participation.
Over 21,000 Candidates Missing as JAMB Releases Rescheduled UTME Results
In a much-anticipated move, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)
has officially released the results for candidates who sat for the rescheduled Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) following disruptions caused by technical issues in some centres nationwide.
However, the release came with a shocking revelation over 21,000 candidates failed to show up for the exam, a development raising fresh questions about the integrity and logistics of Nigeria’s most critical tertiary entry test.
What Triggered the Rescheduling? A Glimpse Into the Technical Glitches
The JAMB 2025 UTME Results was marred by isolated technical issues across several Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres.
These glitches, ranging from server breakdowns to failed logins and system crashes, made it impossible for many candidates to complete or even start their exams.
JAMB, in its usual swift approach, decided to reschedule the exams for the affected candidates, a move that was seen as a corrective step toward fairness.
Yet, it appears that many of these candidates never returned to write the rescheduled test.
Over 21,000 Absentees – Why Were They Missing?
According to the statement released by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, 21,082 of the 336,845 candidates who were rescheduled for the examination failed to turn up on the set date.
No official reason has been provided by JAMB for this unusually high absentee rate.
The silence has sparked speculation ranging from poor communication to relocation challenges, loss of interest, financial constraints, or even psychological distress from the earlier exam disruptions.
One parent from Lagos told NIGPOST:
“My daughter lost interest after her CBT center crashed mid-exam. She felt demoralized and mentally drained. I don’t blame her.”
Emotional Impact on Students – The Silent Burden
Exams like UTME are not just academic evaluations they’re emotional experiences.
For many Nigerian students, the stress of preparing for UTME is intense. When they are forced to resit because of no fault of theirs, the pressure can become unbearable.
Students have taken to social media to share their frustrations:
“After all the reading and anxiety, my center’s system crashed. I had to travel again for the resit. It was too much,” said a candidate on X.
Such sentiments paint a broader picture of how technical failures can spiral into psychological setbacks for already-stressed youths.
JAMB’s Response – Transparency or Gaps in Communication?
While JAMB did well to schedule make-up exams for affected students, critics argue that communication with the candidates was lacking.
Some students reportedly didn’t receive proper notifications about the new exam dates or venues.
Others claim they were informed too late, making it impossible to travel to distant CBT centres on short notice.
This raises key questions:
Is JAMB’s notification system robust enough?
Are rescheduled candidates given enough support and time?
Without clear answers, public trust in the system may begin to erode.
Tech and Education – Time for a Digital Upgrade?
The frequent reports of technical glitches in JAMB exams spotlight a deeper issue: Nigeria’s need for reliable digital infrastructure in education.
CBT was introduced to modernize the testing process, but poor implementation in some centres has undermined its effectiveness.
Experts suggest that many private centres lack the technological capacity to host thousands of candidates efficiently.
Could this be a wake-up call for the Ministry of Education to audit and upgrade CBT centres nationwide?
Parental Frustration – “We Paid, But Got Confusion”
For parents, the UTME is a high-stakes event. From registration fees to transport, feeding, and emotional support, a lot is invested into this exam.
For their children to miss the rescheduled test due to poor communication or CBT mishaps feels like a betrayal.
Mrs. Kehinde, a mother from Ilorin, said:
“We paid over ₦15,000 for the exam. Then we had to pay again for transport and logistics for the resit. My son still couldn’t write because of another issue. Who do we hold accountable?”
Future Implications – What Does This Mean for 2026 and Beyond?
JAMB 2025 UTME Results cycle has exposed significant loopholes both technical and administrative. If not addressed, these problems could escalate in future years.
Analysts are calling for a national review of the UTME process, including:
Better vetting of CBT centres
A robust tech support framework during exams
Psychological support for candidates facing rescheduling stress
What Next? Calls for Reform and Support
The silence over the high absentee rate is deafening.
While JAMB deserves credit for its transparency in releasing numbers, Nigerians expect more accountability, empathy, and a clear roadmap to avoid similar problems in 2026.
Students who missed the rescheduled exams should be engaged through surveys or helplines to understand why they didn’t attend not just for statistics but to improve future experiences.
Conclusion: A System in Need of Strengthening
The UTME is a gateway to university education for millions of Nigerian youths.
Any flaw in its process, however small, affects real lives, real dreams, and the nation’s future.
The 21,082 absentees are not just numbers. They represent students who may now lose a year of progress, not by failure, but by systemic fault lines.
As JAMB celebrates the release of these results, it must also confront the responsibility of preventing a repeat in years to come.
Were you or someone you know affected by the JAMB rescheduled UTME?
What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Share your story in the comments, and don’t forget to share this article with others who care about reforming Nigeria’s education system.
Author: Aminat Sulaimon
Date: May 25, 2025
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