The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is considering a major shift in its examination assessment framework, with plans to place greater emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving and practical competencies rather than memorisation.
The proposed reform is part of the Board’s efforts to make Nigeria’s tertiary admission system more relevant to current educational demands and the skills required in the modern workplace.
JAMB Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, disclosed the policy direction in a statement titled ‘My First Quarter in JAMB’, released on November 9, 2026, in which he outlined his administration’s priorities and plans for the examination body.
Aina said the Board intended to restructure its assessment framework to accommodate critical thinking, practical competencies and life skills in line with changing global expectations and labour market demands.
He explained that the objective was to move beyond an examination culture that places excessive emphasis on memorisation and instead recognise candidates’ intellectual abilities, problem-solving skills and capacity to apply knowledge.
The proposed direction could have significant implications for millions of Nigerian students preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), particularly in how they approach their studies and examination preparation.
If implemented, the shift would require greater attention to understanding concepts, interpreting information, analysing problems and applying classroom knowledge rather than relying mainly on memorised notes and repeated practice of examination questions.
The proposed changes also raise questions about the readiness of secondary schools to support a more competency-based assessment system. Teachers may need to strengthen instructional approaches that encourage independent thinking, practical learning, classroom discussions and the application of knowledge.
School administrators and education stakeholders may also need to review how students are prepared for external examinations to ensure that classroom teaching goes beyond the pursuit of examination scores.
Beyond assessment, Aina identified digital transformation as another priority, saying JAMB would expand access to its services online to reduce unnecessary physical visits to its offices and service centres.
He also pledged to strengthen the reliability, security and resilience of the Board’s digital platforms, which play an important role in registration, examination administration and admission-related services.
On preparations for the 2027 UTME, the Registrar said the Board was working on innovations to improve examination conduct, eliminate avoidable difficulties and enhance candidates’ overall experience.
However, he did not announce a new examination format, specific question structure or implementation timetable for the proposed assessment reforms. Candidates are therefore expected to continue following the existing official examination guidelines until JAMB publishes further directives.
The proposed policy direction comes amid growing calls for education systems to produce graduates with the knowledge, critical thinking abilities and practical skills needed to contribute meaningfully to national development.
For JAMB, the challenge will be to translate its proposed assessment reforms into a clear and practical framework that schools, teachers, candidates and tertiary institutions can understand and implement.
The success of the reform will depend not only on changes to examination questions but also on the readiness of the wider education system to support a learning culture that rewards understanding, independent thinking and the practical application of knowledge.
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