Dr. Tunji Alausa, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, has attributed the widespread failure in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to the government’s intensified efforts against exam malpractice.
Speaking on Channels Television, Dr. Alausa clarified that the poor results don’t signify a drop in student intelligence, but rather highlight the effectiveness of stricter anti-cheating measures now in place.
“The outcome reflects the integrity of exams being conducted properly,” he said.
He credited the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its success in curbing malpractice, thanks to its robust Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system, which he described as nearly cheat-proof.
“JAMB has incorporated advanced security protocols into its CBT format, making it extremely difficult to cheat. Unfortunately, WAEC and NECO haven’t yet reached that level,” he explained.
To address this, Dr. Alausa announced that WAEC and NECO will begin transitioning to CBT starting in November 2025, with full implementation across all major national exams—including EMBRAS and NBTEB—by 2027.
He expressed concern over the culture of cheating in secondary school exams, which he believes undermines the efforts of honest students and distorts academic merit.
“Students who cheat their way through WAEC and NECO struggle when they face JAMB’s credible system. That’s the reality we’re seeing now, and it’s unacceptable,” he emphasized.
Dr. Alausa condemned the exam fraud ecosystem, which he said includes students, parents, and invigilators, and reaffirmed the government’s resolve to dismantle it.
“I’ve taught at both primary and secondary levels and witnessed the rampant cheating firsthand. We need to confront this issue head-on, even if it means exposing our flaws,” he stated.
Praising JAMB’s current standards, he added: “JAMB has become almost entirely fraud-free. The persistent leakage of questions in WAEC and NECO undermines students’ motivation and integrity.”
He stressed that the problem isn’t with the students themselves, but the corrupt environment they’re exposed to.
“Our youths are talented and capable. It’s the broken system that pushes them toward dishonesty. We’re committed to changing that,” he concluded.
This comes amid public concern following reports that over 1.5 million students scored below 200 in the 2025 UTME.