Parents Plead with JAMB to Postpone UTME Resit to June Amid WAEC Clash and Student Trauma
Amid WAEC exams, parents demand JAMB shift the UTME resit to June, citing stress, travel difficulties, and mental fatigue among 300,000 affected candidates.
As Nigerian secondary school students tackle their WAEC papers, many are now forced to face an unexpected hurdle resitting for the 2025 JAMB UTME due to a technical glitch.
With JAMB announcing the new UTME resit date for May 16–18, a wave of concern has swept across the country.
Parents, educators, and stakeholders are urging the examination body to postpone the JAMB UTME resit to June, giving students time to recover and focus on their ongoing WAEC examinations.
This situation, which affects more than 300,000 candidates, has reignited conversations around educational policy planning, student mental health,
and the preparedness of Nigeria’s exam bodies to handle emergencies without jeopardizing students’ futures.
The Root of the Controversy: A Nationwide Glitch Hits JAMB UTME
The problem began when the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) experienced a widespread technical failure during the initial Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across several centers.
The glitch, linked to a faulty software update, disrupted exams in over 157 centers and affected candidates in key states including Lagos, Anambra, Imo, Enugu, and Abia.
JAMB revealed that over 206,610 candidates in Lagos and 173,387 in South-East states were unable to complete their exams successfully.
JAMB’s Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, publicly took responsibility for the system failure, calling it an unfortunate but rare event.
While many commended his transparency, the hasty decision to reschedule the JAMB UTME resit to a period overlapping WAEC exams has left parents and students frustrated.
Why the UTME Resit Date Is Sparking National Concern
Nigerian parents are particularly worried about the JAMB UTME resit clashing with the ongoing WAEC examination schedule.
WAEC is a crucial test that determines eligibility for university admission in Nigeria and other West African countries.
Balancing the two examinations could result in excessive mental stress for students, negatively affecting their performance in both.
One concerned parent, Mr. Bukola Omoniyi, whose son schools in Ibadan, expressed anger that his child had to return to Lagos for the resit.
“He barely has time to prepare for WAEC subjects. Now they are adding more stress by asking him to travel back for JAMB. It’s too much pressure,” he said.
Another parent, Mrs. Aisha Okikiola, described her daughter’s confusion and anxiety. “She was revising Chemistry when she heard about the resit.
Now she’s switching between WAEC and UTME syllabi. It’s mentally exhausting,” she lamented.
Teachers, School Owners, and Stakeholders Add Their Voices
Educators and school administrators have also joined in the call for JAMB to postpone the UTME resit.
A Catholic school principal in Enugu criticized the poor planning and called the resit decision disruptive.
“It’s not just the exams. There’s the issue of logistics, travel, and student safety,” he said.
“Many students live far from their centers, and expecting them to travel back and forth during WAEC is inconsiderate.”
Mr. Felix Onuoha, a school owner in Imo State, suggested that JAMB should consult with WAEC to avoid such clashes in the future.
“We understand that JAMB had no control over the glitch, but they do have control over how to fix it.
Postponing the JAMB UTME resit to June would be the sensible path forward,” he emphasized.
Psychological Toll on Students: Are We Ignoring Mental Health?
One of the major concerns parents have raised is the psychological trauma this sudden resit is causing.
Teenagers preparing for both WAEC and JAMB simultaneously are reportedly suffering from sleep deprivation, anxiety, and burnout.
Experts in mental health warn that overwhelming academic pressure during high-stakes periods like this can have long-term consequences.
Psychologist Dr. Yetunde Bello advised that pushing students into back-to-back exams without adequate time for recovery can impair memory, affect confidence, and even lead to exam failure.
“Parents are right to be worried. Academic pressure without recovery time is like overloading a computer it will crash eventually,” Dr. Bello explained.
NAPTAN Weighs In: Advocating Calm but Understanding the Frustration
The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has urged parents to remain calm while also acknowledging their valid concerns.
Speaking to journalists, NAPTAN President Haruna Danjuma urged JAMB to consider the emotional and logistical strain placed on families and schools.
“We want to work with JAMB to ensure a smooth process, but we also urge the Board to consider the possibility of shifting the JAMB UTME resit to June,” Danjuma said.
Alarming Statistics Reveal Deeper Issues in JAMB UTME Performance
Beyond the glitch, this year’s UTME results have sparked even more alarm.
Data from JAMB indicates that over 78% of the 1.9 million registered candidates scored below 200 out of 400.
While JAMB attributed the mass failure to inadequate preparation by students, critics point to system failures, poor exam planning, and stress as key contributors.
This adds more urgency to the demand for a postponed JAMB UTME resit, to give affected students time to properly prepare without sacrificing WAEC performance.
House of Representatives Launches a National Probe
In response to widespread dissatisfaction, the House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the JAMB UTME technical failure.
During Thursday’s plenary session, lawmakers proposed several recommendations, including the establishment of Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers in all local government areas.
Some lawmakers praised JAMB’s Registrar for admitting fault, but others stressed the need for stronger accountability and a backup plan to prevent future technical breakdowns.
A member from Rivers State commented, “It’s unacceptable that a glitch can derail the future of thousands of students. We must review JAMB’s processes immediately.”
National Orientation Agency and Civil Societies Demand Accountability
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), alongside civil society organizations such as the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, has praised JAMB’s honesty but also demanded tangible solutions.
NOA Director General, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, commended JAMB’s transparency but insisted that apologies are not enough.
“The JAMB UTME resit is more than just an inconvenience it’s a crisis of trust.
If JAMB wants to maintain its credibility, it must offer compensations or alternative solutions to students and their families,” he stated.
The Call for Postponement Grows Louder
Across the nation, calls for postponing the JAMB UTME resit continue to grow.
Social media is abuzz with hashtags like #PostponeJAMBResit and #StudentsDeserveBetter.
Many Nigerians see this as a litmus test for how well national institutions prioritize the well-being of young people.
Educational blogger Adaobi Nwachukwu shared, “This is not just a matter of dates.
It’s about how we value education, mental health, and fairness. A one-month postponement could save the futures of many students.”
Recommendations: A Better Path Forward
To restore confidence and minimize disruptions, stakeholders recommend the following:
1. Reschedule the JAMB UTME resit to June to give students time to focus on WAEC.
2. Improve coordination between JAMB and WAEC to avoid future timetable overlaps.
3. Provide transportation stipends or support for students required to travel.
4. Establish CBT centers across LGAs to reduce the need for long-distance travel.
5. Offer counseling support for affected students dealing with academic stress.
Conclusion: Let the Students Breathe
As pressure continues to mount, JAMB must listen to the voices of parents, students, and education advocates.
The issue is no longer about a glitch it’s about ensuring fairness, equity, and student well-being in Nigeria’s education system.
A postponed JAMB UTME resit will not only ease the burden on students but also send a powerful message: that Nigeria puts its youth first.
Do you believe the JAMB UTME resit should be postponed till June?
Join the conversation in the comments section and share this article with fellow parents, students, and educators.
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Author:Grace Oladimeji
Date:May 16, 2025
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