UTME Mass Failure: CONUA Calls for Urgent Education Reform in Nigeria

The results of the just-announced 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination have deeply alarmed the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), which has described them as proof of the declining quality of Nigeria’s educational system.

Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, the president of CONUA, said in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday that the disappointing findings indicate a “deep-rooted crisis” in the industry that necessitates immediate reform.

Moreover, more than 1.5 million of the 1.96 million candidates who took the 2025 UTME scored less than 200 out of 400, according to information previously released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

Sunmonu blamed the widespread failure on structural issues such as inadequate infrastructure, poor curriculum delivery, low-quality instruction, and students’ lack of experience with computer-based assessment techniques.

He cautioned that, because of a declining number of competent applicants, the tendency may compel colleges to reduce academic standards.

Additionally, he emphasized that pupils from underprivileged areas are disproportionately impacted, which exacerbates educational inequity and poses a long-term risk to Nigeria’s development of human capital.

In order to better reflect contemporary, 21st-century abilities, Sunmonu called for the Federal Ministry of Education, state governments, and regulatory bodies to immediately update the national curriculum.

In addition, he demanded increased funding for teacher preparation, more stringent accountability guidelines, and better access to infrastructure and educational resources in every area.

Furthermore, he promoted the improvement of remedial education programs like JUPEB and pre-degree, which assist students who are underprepared but have promise. Sunmonu also suggested giving institutions more freedom in the admissions process so they can create customized programs for talented individuals who might not achieve the conventional cutoff scores.

The results of this year’s UTME are concerning, but they also present a chance to refocus our goals and reaffirm our shared will to completely rebuild Nigeria’s educational system, he said.