JAMB & WAEC Face Credibility Crisis Over Exam Glitches

JAMB

Instances of technical malfunctions impacting the operations of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) have raised significant worries about the credibility and dependability of Nigeria’s standardized testing systems.

Concerns have emerged among stakeholders that these persistent problems may erode public trust in the fairness and accuracy of essential academic evaluations.

The year 2025 will be remembered for the major crisis faced by Nigeria’s two key examination bodies, JAMB and WAEC, due to what has been termed as glitches.

Initially, JAMB had to conduct a retake of the exam for certain students after the results were released. On Monday, August 4, WAEC made public the results of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for 2025, revealing a significant failure rate in the English Language.

In a surprising turn, on Thursday, August 7, WAEC issued a statement indicating that a glitch had occurred. This has left many stakeholders questioning the future of the Nigerian education system.

Nubi Achebo, the director of academic planning at the Nigerian University of Technology and Management (NUTM), expressed that the surge of glitches is alarming for the system, particularly in light of the recent WAEC incident.

Achebo pointed out that the drama surrounding the WAEC glitch in Nigeria is creating significant repercussions within the educational system, potentially affecting students’ mental state, raising doubts about credibility, the shift to CBT, and systemic problems, among other concerns.

“The glitches and the subsequent adjustments to results may cast doubts on the trustworthiness of WAEC and its examination procedures,” he stated.

Furthermore, he highlighted that stakeholders, including the National Association of Parent-Teacher Associations of Nigeria, are questioning the proposed transition to full computer-based testing (CBT) for external examinations like WASSCE and NECO, citing insufficient infrastructure and low levels of computer proficiency among students.

“The widespread failure in the English language has highlighted systemic issues within Nigeria’s education sector, such as inadequate investment in teacher development, poor infrastructure, and limited digital access in rural communities,” he remarked.

Additionally, according to Achebo, the rise in glitches is likely to cause stress and anxiety among students, leading to psychological discomfort and creating uncertainty and frustration, among other negative effects.

“The glitches and the rectification of results may result in unnecessary stress and anxiety for students waiting for their results and those whose futures hinge on these exams.

“Students and their parents are likely experiencing doubts and frustration regarding the reliability of the exam results and their implications for future educational and career opportunities,” he noted.

The university academic also stressed that this concern is evident, as the National Association of Nigerian Students has accused WAEC of inadequacy, stating that the situation has inflicted undue psychological distress on candidates and their families.