By Isaac Atunlute
Each year, more than 1.5 million candidates take Nigeria’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). For many, this high-stakes test is the sole gateway to their academic dreams–a single exam that determines their future.
Yet, as frustration mounts over the systemic glitches, a pressing question emerges: Should JAMB be scrapped entirely?
JAMB, established in 1978, was designed to streamline university admissions and ensure meritocracy in a rapidly expanding sector. It aimed to create a standardised process for assessing the readiness of students for tertiary education.
However, decades later, the system is often criticised for inefficiencies, widespread malpractice, and questionable relevance in today’s world.
A Growing Discontent
“I took JAMB three times and scored well, but I was never admitted,” laments Chisom Promise, a 23-year-old aspiring medical student from Enugu. “It’s no longer done based on merit. It is now a game of chance.”
Despite its intentions, JAMB has become a bottleneck for many Nigerian students. High score often fail to guarantee admission due to course restrictions, university quotas and state-based catchment area requirements, which prioritise local applicants over others.
In contrast, university admission in countries like the UK relies heavily on a broader set of criteria, including A-level achievement, personal statements, and interviews through systems like UCAS. These models highlight a more holistic assessment of a student’s potential rather than a single standardised test.
What Can Replace JAMB
- University Autonomy
Allow universities to design their own admission procedures, including interviews and aptitude tests, as practised by some private institutions like Covenant University.
- Combination Scoring
Integrate WAEC/NECO performance with continuous assessments and aptitude tests, reducing the pressure on a single exam.
- Digital Portfolios & Interviews: Particularly useful for creative and technical disciplines, providing a fuller picture of a student’s capabilities.
Amaka Joseph, a former JAMB candidate, recalls, “I scored 280, but I was rejected for studying medicine twice. Meanwhile, one who scored 230 was admitted based on ‘connections.”
Others, however, argue that JAMB has made strides in transparency. Bashir Lawal, a JAMB official based in Abuja, says, “We are reforming. JAMB has curbed fraud, computerized exams, and is now more transparent than before.”
The Way Forward
Abolishing JAMB outright could cause chaos. Instead, experts suggest a phased approach to reform.
- Web-based transparency tools to track admission offers.
- Student appeal procedures for unfair rejections.
- Balancing regional equity without compromising merit.
- The use of the multi-metric systems to assess students, combining continuous assessment, national grading, interviews, and school recommendations.
JAMB could evolve from a gatekeeper to a regulatory body, monitoring standards and ensuring fairness, without monopolising the admissions process.
Conclusion
Whether JAMB stays or goes, one thing is clear: Nigeria needs a fairer, broader, and more flexible admissions system. One that serves the dreams of every Nigerian student and not against them. Education should be a ladder, not a lottery.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination in Nigeria, taken by over 1.5 million candidates annually, is under scrutiny as frustrations grow over its relevance and systemic glitches. Established in 1978 to standardize university admissions and ensure meritocracy, JAMB has become a bottleneck for students due to course restrictions, university quotas, and regional preferences. Many students, despite high scores, face rejection in favor of those with connections or state-based advantages, contrasting with more holistic admission systems like the UK's UCAS.
Critics suggest alternatives such as university autonomy in admissions, integrating WAEC/NECO scores, digital portfolios, and interviews that offer a more comprehensive assessment of a student's capabilities. However, some acknowledge JAMB's effort in reforming and increasing transparency.
A phased reform approach is recommended rather than abolishing JAMB outright, suggesting transparency tools, appeal procedures for students, and a multi-metric assessment system combining continuous assessment with national grading. This way, JAMB could transition to a regulatory body ensuring fairness without dominating the admissions process, thus creating a fairer and more flexible system that aligns with the aspirations of Nigerian students.
