Is there a solution to the mass UTME failure?
A few weeks ago, THE PUNCH published a report titled, Concerns rise over teaching as over nine million fail UTME in seven years.
According to the report, the average failure rate for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) over seven years stands at 78.29%. Out of 11.9 million candidates who took the UTME between 2018 and 2024, about 9.17 million scored below the 200-pass mark. It is frightening!
Also in the report, education stakeholders attributed this poor performance to factors such as a shortage of qualified teachers, outdated curricula and distractions from social media. On the other hand, some parents, who in the past have disputed the results as released by JAMB, argue that some registered candidates could not sit for the examination due to network glitches and a shortage of computer systems.
Concerns over time spent by children on TikTok, Instagram and other platforms are understandable, even as there is an increasing craze for Nigerian youth to become content creators, which may seem illogical to some parents. However, it is important to note that limiting creative pursuits may not necessarily be the solution as there have been instances of successful individuals who have balanced both academics and content creation effectively.
Take the influencer Enioluwa Adeoluwa for instance. The 24-year-old Eni, as he is fondly called, must have mastered this balancing act. In January, he announced that he was studying for his PhD, as he reminisced on his journey on social media. By his own account, he graduated from Ekiti State University at 19 obtaining a bachelor’s degree in Media and Theatre, and boasting a 4.71 CGPA. In a YouTube video, he shared his top tips for studying for examinations which helped him graduate with a first class.
While studying for his PhD, Eni continues to create content that inspires. On Children’s Day, he collaborated with Nollywood actors such as Kate Henshaw and Shaffy Bello, the Guinness World record holder, Hilda Baci, artists — Waje Iruobe, Praiz, and Korede Bello among other celebrities and influencers to perform the 1985 USA for Africa hit song “We Are the World.” It was nostalgic and inspiring and is still fresh in our memories.
Furthermore, given the rapid technological advancements such as artificial intelligence (AI), it is becoming increasingly apparent that Nigerians must guide and encourage their children to use technology for constructive purposes. A case in point is generative AI tools that have the potential to elevate soft skills and foster creativity, making them valuable assets for the development and growth of Nigerian youth.
The situation is also a cause for concern for business owners as these failures have a proportionate relationship with the quality of the workforce. The data over the last seven years shows a progressive increase in the UTME failure rate. With this progressive increase in failure, not only will the quality of employable people be affected, but also the quantity.
Undoubtedly, the systemic issues within the education sector namely, the adequacy and quality of the teaching force, and the relevance of curricula must be addressed. But fixing these systemic issues will take time as they have been decades in the making. Considering this, are there any short-term solutions that parents can look to, and which are somewhat within their control? If children spend too much time on mobile phones, can Nigeria leverage technology to solve this problem? Possibly.
Amid these grim realities, an education technology company is telling a different story on social media. As stated by the company, two thousand students prepared for the just concluded UTME at its learning centre and of those students, 97% scored above the pass mark of 200.
The Teesas technology-enabled hybrid learning centre offers real-time computer-based WAEC, UTME and post-UTME practice tests and mock trials that can be accessed online and offline via its eponymous mobile and web app.
Candidates get access to a compilation of 40 years of UTME and Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) practice test questions and answers, and tutorial videos based on the likeliest topics from previous years.
Two thousand successful candidates from one learning centre compared to about 2 million candidates who sat for the UTME examination is a drop in the ocean. Nonetheless, it is a start. Could more centres like this be rolled out across the country?
In “Communicating with the educated illiterate,” I shared an experience with a university graduate who did not know what Gmail was, yet owned a Facebook account. Encounters like that make you realise that the ability to use social media apps does not automatically translate to the ability to use a computer.
Whilst media reports have not suggested that lack of access to computers for computer-based practice tests is one of the reasons for the mass failure, I would not be surprised if it was. As a result, facilities such as the Teesas Learning Centre could play a crucial role in helping students with varying levels of digital proficiency become better acquainted with computer-based testing.
Treasure David who scored 321 in JAMB said, “The weekly CBT assessment tests at Teesas were a game changer.”
Certainly, practice makes perfect!
NB
Adapted from an article originally published in THE PUNCH.
