The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa has attributed the widespread failure in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to the government’s intensified efforts against exam malpractice.
Aluasa stated this while speaking on Channels Television, on Tuesday.
The Minister clarified that the poor results don’t signify a drop in student intelligence. He noted that it rather highlight the effectiveness of stricter anti-cheating measures now in place in the education sector.
According to him, the outcome reflects the integrity of exams being conducted properly.
Alausa credited the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for its success in curbing malpractice. This is as he praised its robust Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system, which he described as nearly cheat-proof.
He said, “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.”
To address this, the Minister announced that WAEC and NECO will begin transitioning to CBT starting in November 2025. He, however, pointed out that full implementation across all major national exams—including EMBRAS and NBTEB will be by 2027.
Alausa expressed concern over the culture of cheating in secondary school exams. Which he believes undermines the efforts of honest students and distorts academic merit.
He emphasized that “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.”
The Minister also condemned the exam fraud ecosystem, which he said includes students, parents, and invigilators. He, however, reaffirmed 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.
“JAMB has become almost entirely fraud-free. The persistent leakage of questions in WAEC and NECO undermines students’ motivation and integrity,” he lamented.
Alausa noted 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 assured.
The Minister’s comments were made following public concerns over the 1.5 million students that scored below 200 in the 2025 UTME.