Blank questions, power cuts, and a tragic suicide have plunged Nigeria’s education system into turmoil as the body overseeing university-entrance exams faces intense scrutiny after admitting to a “technical glitch” that affected this year’s test results. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (Jamb) revealed that nearly 80% of students received unexpectedly low grades due to various challenges during the examination process.
According to reports by BBC Africa, students encountered log-in issues, missing questions on their screens, and disruptions caused by power outages that hindered their ability to complete the exams successfully. The situation escalated when Faith Opesusi Timileyin, a 19-year-old aspiring microbiology student, tragically ended her life by ingesting poison after scoring lower than expected in the exam. Her family shared how the disappointment of receiving only 146 marks out of 400 led her to take such a drastic step.
“The pain made her take her own life,”
expressed Faith’s father, Oluwafemi Opesusi.
The passing grade threshold for university admission typically stands at 200 or above out of 400. Shockingly, only 400,000 out of approximately 1.9 million candidates managed to meet this standard—marking one of the worst performances recorded in recent years. This revelation sparked public outrage and demands for accountability within Nigeria’s educational framework.
As reported by BBC Africa,
“I did not get to answer all the questions when they told us our time was up because a lot of my time was wasted due to those technical difficulties,”
lamented one affected student who struggled with computer login issues and system malfunctions during the exam.
In response to mounting pressure from students and citizens alike, Jamb announced plans for eligible candidates from select regions to retake their exams following the widespread disruptions experienced during the initial testing period. The board acknowledged
“the painful damage” and “the trauma that it has subjected affected Nigerians,”
issuing apologies for the distress caused.
During a press conference led by Jamb registrar Ishaq Oloyede,
he broke down in tears while expressing remorse,
highlighting the emotional toll brought on by these unfortunate circumstances.
The repercussions extended beyond individual tragedies as concerns arose about systemic failures affecting critical institutions like universities. Social media platforms buzzed with calls for accountability and justice as Nigerians demanded transparency regarding the events leading up to this crisis.
While some defended the exam results as reflective of students’ true academic abilities without compromising integrity through cheating,
others criticized Jamb officials for incompetence,
labeling it educational sabotage that warranted immediate action against those responsible.
It is essential now more than ever to address these lapses swiftly before irreparable harm is done not only to individual aspirations but also to broader societal trust in key educational processes within Nigeria.
**Attribution:**
This narrative is based on information reported by [BBC Africa](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c628q8w7ej3o).
Leave feedback about this