In a passionate social media post that has sparked a nationwide debate, a Nigerian mother has voiced her frustrations with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the federal government, accusing them of using standardized examinations to generate revenue while neglecting the systemic flaws that undermine student performance.
“Government should stop shifting blames on students for failing JAMB and other examinations,” she said in the viral video. “They too have their own flaws. The problem started when they began using exams to make money since the era of GCE.” Her remarks reflect growing public frustration following the 2025 JAMB examinations, where complaints about poor internet access, power failures, and overcrowded centers were widespread.
Historically, the commercialization of examinations has become institutionalized in Nigeria. Since the introduction of the GCE in 1989 and the establishment of the National Examination Council (NECO) in 1999, students have had to sit for multiple exams—including WAEC, NECO, and JAMB—often at significant financial cost. As of 2025, the average Nigerian student spends between ₦10,000 to ₦15,000 registering for JAMB alone, excluding transportation and preparatory materials. With over 1.9 million candidates sitting for JAMB in 2025, the body generated nearly ₦28 billion in revenue, according to official financial reports.
The mother’s grievances go beyond exam fees. She recalled how, in the past, individuals with just two or three credits in WAEC had limited access to higher education, and the introduction of alternative exams like GCE and NECO did little to resolve the challenges. “Some people write these exams five times or even more and still don’t pass. During my time, we didn’t have social media, but the struggles were real.”
In contrast, countries like Germany, Norway, and Finland have education models where university entry is based more on continuous assessment and aptitude rather than centralized exams. In Germany, for example, the Abitur exam is school-based, and tuition is free in most universities, regardless of the number of attempts. In Finland, standardized testing is minimal, and admissions are largely determined by performance in final-year projects and interviews.
“In Western countries, you only use one result to enter school,” the mother emphasized. “Once you are above 25 years, they exempt you because they believe you are already an adult.” In the UK, mature students over 21 can apply to universities without presenting secondary school qualifications, focusing instead on personal statements and work experience. She questioned why Nigeria couldn’t adapt such flexible, inclusive models considering its own unique challenges.
Technological barriers also form a major part of her concerns. “Many children don’t have computer knowledge,” she said, referencing delays and confusion during the 2025 JAMB CBT examinations. At several centers, candidates scheduled for 2:00 PM ended up writing their exams at 8:00 PM due to server downtime and infrastructural issues. In some rural areas, entire sessions were cancelled or rescheduled because of power failures or internet disruptions.
The mother added, “How many of these children have mobile phones? How many can afford data? Yet we keep saying they are addicted to social media. Are they not pressing phones in other countries too?” The disparity in access to digital resources continues to widen the educational divide. According to a 2022 report by the Nigerian Communications Commission, less than 45% of rural secondary schools have reliable internet access.
While the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has acknowledged the presence of “miracle centres” and students who do not prepare adequately, the mother insists that responsibility must also be shared by policymakers and administrators. “Why can’t a JAMB result last for two to five years before it expires? Why must they write it every year if the government doesn’t have an agenda of making money through it too?”
Her questions echo the sentiments of many parents and educators who believe the annual expiration of JAMB results is both exploitative and unnecessary. In India, for instance, the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) result is valid for up to three years, giving candidates more flexibility. In the United States, SAT scores are valid for five years, and universities often consider scores as part of a broader admissions portfolio.
“The issue of failing servers in JAMB centers cannot be blamed on students,” she added, referencing reports that dozens of centers had malfunctioning systems during the April 2025 exams. According to JAMB’s own technical audit in 2024, over 100 CBT centers were delisted due to inefficiencies, yet many of them were reinstated under unclear circumstances.
Concluding her passionate outcry, she said, “Prof. Oloyede should do something about this and not just keep blaming students for not studying well.” Her call to action is a challenge to the leadership of JAMB and the broader education ministry to embrace reform—not only of the examination system but of the entire infrastructure and support network that surrounds student success.
As Nigeria seeks to improve its education outcomes, this mother’s voice underscores the urgent need to de-commercialize exams, reform assessment structures, and build an inclusive system that recognizes both the limitations of the state and the potential of its youth.
