The recently released 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results have ignited widespread concern and frustration across Nigeria. Out of nearly 1.9 million candidates, more than 1.5 million scored below 200. Such dismal performance is not just disappointing—it is alarming and demands urgent national reflection.
To put this decline in perspective, in 2007, 66 percent of students scored 200 and above in the UTME. Fast-forward to 2025, and that figure has plummeted to just 22 percent. What we are witnessing is not merely a drop in performance but a collapse.
The decline has been steady and troubling: 63 percent in 2008, 41 percent in 2010, 30 percent in 2015, 24 percent in 2019, and 23 percent in 2023. Should this trajectory remain unchecked, the credibility of JAMB and, by extension, Nigeria’s entire tertiary education system may soon be rendered meaningless.
What is driving this regression? Many have described today’s teenagers as the “zombie generation,” a term that reflects the reality of a youth culture engrossed in smartphones, social media trends, and digital entertainment, while remaining worryingly disconnected from books, critical thinking, and intellectual growth.
Platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, alongside entertainment blogs, have taken the place of textbooks and reading culture.
A significant number of students now invest more time perfecting their social image than studying, leading to poor analytical reasoning, weak communication skills, and a general lack of curiosity.
It would be simplistic, however, to blame the students alone. This crisis is a collective failure that implicates every layer of society.
Parents, for instance, often prioritise the grades their children bring home without questioning how those results were achieved. Some go as far as financing ‘special centres’ where exam malpractice is standard practice. In their quest for social validation, many parents buy smartphones and mobile data for their children but hesitate to spend on quality educational resources such as textbooks or private lessons. They celebrate results earned through dubious means, only to be bewildered when those same children underperform in JAMB.
Schools and educators are also complicit. The education sector, in many instances, has been reduced to a profit-making venture. Numerous schools employ unqualified teachers to minimise cost, and many now value exam success over character development or actual learning. It is no longer rare to hear of teachers leaking answers during exams, calling it ‘assistance.’ This betrayal of trust not only damages the integrity of the profession but also hampers students’ capacity to learn. Many secondary school leavers today cannot compose a coherent sentence or tackle basic problems.
The government, too, bears significant responsibility. Despite having policies on paper, there is little meaningful implementation. Public schools are in decay, budgets for education are insufficient, and ‘miracle centres’ continue to operate openly without consequence. Rather than tackle these issues, government officials appear content to look away, even as the educational foundation of the nation crumbles.
The consequences of this collective negligence are already evident. Students who gain university admission without the requisite foundational knowledge often struggle, drop out, or graduate without the skills they need. Looking ahead, one can only imagine the danger posed by professionals trained in such a compromised system: doctors unable to read patient charts, engineers cutting corners, or politicians mismanaging resources. This is not a distant threat—it is the Nigeria we are creating.
How do we fix this?
The solution requires a reset at every level. Parents must go beyond chasing grades and focus on instilling discipline and the value of hard work. Schools must return to prioritising substance over shortcuts. Teachers must reclaim their role as mentors and custodians of knowledge, restoring integrity to the profession. Students must understand that excellence cannot be achieved through clout or popularity but through diligence, consistency, and a commitment to learning. The government must demonstrate political will to reform and fund the education sector adequately, while enforcing standards through strong regulatory oversight.
A society that rewards shortcuts and celebrates mediocrity can only produce failure.
The latest JAMB results are not just numbers; they reflect the state of a nation’s soul. If we are to avert a generational disaster, we must act now—decisively and collectively.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.