Following widespread technical glitches during the 2025 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams, candidates, lecturers, and educationists in Rivers State are calling for the abolition of the unified examination system.
Many students expressed frustration over the disruptions and the short notice given for the rescheduled exams. Ijeoma Osuji lamented, “After preparing hard, JAMB tells us there were technical glitches — it’s very disheartening.” Another candidate, Felicia, described the exams as a “scam,” accusing JAMB of commercializing the process.
University lecturers also weighed in. Dr. Tubo Tamuno Boma of the University of Port Harcourt advocated that universities should conduct their own entrance exams directly, arguing that students still face aptitude tests after JAMB, making the board redundant.
Residents echoed these concerns. Mr. Friday Amadi said the short timeframe for retakes was unfair and called for the scrapping of JAMB to allow universities to manage admissions independently.
Professor Sam Chinaka recommended government investment in subsidizing technology access to improve candidates’ readiness for computer-based tests.
Educationist and lecturer Ken Nwaeke called for the resignation of the JAMB registrar, blaming the board and mobile network providers for the technical failures. He criticized JAMB for releasing results prematurely and urged that the cost of the retake exams be borne by the board.
JAMB had acknowledged the system glitches and rescheduled exams for affected candidates to sit again.
