Why Are JAMB Scores Declining? Understanding Nigeria's Education Crisis

The 2025 JAMB UTME results revealed a troubling trend: 78% of candidates scored below 200 out of 400, with only 0.63% achieving 300 or above. This performance crisis isn't new but continues a decade-long pattern of declining academic achievement in Nigeria's university entrance examination.

The Numbers Tell a Stark Story

Out of approximately 1.9 million candidates who sat for JAMB in 2025, fewer than 13,000 scored 300 or higher. Meanwhile, 24,535 candidates scored below 100, effectively eliminating any chance of university admission. The median score hovers around 150, well below what competitive courses require.

These statistics represent more than numbers. Behind each low score sits a student whose educational aspirations face serious obstacles, a family whose investments in education yield disappointing returns, and a nation whose human capital development suffers.

Root Causes of Poor Performance

Foundation Problems in Secondary Education

Many students reach SS3 without mastering fundamental concepts in Mathematics, English, and Science. Weak foundations from JSS classes compound as students advance, creating knowledge gaps that intensive JAMB preparation cannot overcome in a few months.

Overcrowded classrooms make individual attention difficult. In schools with 60-80 students per class, teachers struggle to ensure every student grasps concepts before moving forward. Weaker students fall further behind each term.

Teaching Quality Variations

The quality of instruction varies dramatically across Nigerian schools. Many institutions, particularly private schools in underserved areas, employ underqualified teachers who lack deep subject mastery. These teachers cannot effectively explain concepts they don't fully understand themselves.

Even qualified teachers face challenges: inadequate teaching materials, minimal professional development opportunities, large class sizes limiting effective instruction, and curricula that emphasize breadth over depth.

Examination Malpractice Dependency

Widespread malpractice in WAEC and NECO creates false confidence. Students who obtained strong SSCE results through cheating possess inflated perceptions of their abilities. JAMB's stricter CBT format and improved security measures expose the knowledge gaps hidden by previous exam malpractice.

When students reach JAMB, perhaps the first examination they take honestly under secure conditions, their actual knowledge level becomes apparent. The results shock students and parents who believed falsified WAEC results reflected genuine ability.

Inadequate Preparation Approaches

Many students prepare for JAMB ineffectively. They attempt thousands of practice questions without understanding underlying concepts, memorize answers to specific questions hoping they'll repeat exactly, study subjects in isolation without building connections, and cram intensively in the final weeks rather than studying consistently throughout the year.

This surface-level preparation helps students answer questions they've seen before but leaves them unable to tackle variations or questions testing the same concepts differently.

Systemic Factors Beyond Individual Control

Resource Limitations

Many Nigerian students lack access to quality textbooks, functional school libraries, laboratory equipment for practical learning, reliable electricity for home study, or supplementary learning resources that could strengthen their education.

These resource gaps particularly affect students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, creating educational inequality where family wealth significantly influences academic outcomes.

Curriculum and Instruction Methods

The Nigerian secondary school curriculum emphasizes content coverage over deep understanding. Teachers rush through syllabi to complete requirements, leaving insufficient time for mastery. Instruction remains largely teacher-centered with minimal student engagement or active learning.

JAMB, however, tests understanding and application rather than mere recall. This mismatch between how concepts are taught and how they're tested contributes to poor performance.

What Students Can Do Differently

Focus on Understanding Over Memorization

True understanding allows you to answer questions regardless of how they're worded. When studying Mathematics, understand why formulas work, not just how to apply them. For Science subjects, grasp underlying principles rather than memorizing facts.

Test your understanding by explaining concepts to others, applying knowledge to new problems, and connecting ideas across topics. If you can't explain a concept simply, you don't truly understand it.

Address Weak Foundations Early

If you struggle with fundamental concepts, address these gaps before attempting advanced topics. Weak Mathematics foundations from JSS classes will haunt you in SS3 JAMB preparation. Review and master basics before building upon them.

This might mean reviewing JSS or SS1 topics during SS2 or SS3. While it feels like going backwards, solid foundations enable faster progress later.

Practice Strategically, Not Just Extensively

Quality practice matters more than quantity. When practicing past questions, study explanations thoroughly, understand why wrong answers are incorrect, identify patterns in your mistakes, and focus on weak topics rather than avoiding them.

Platforms like Ulearngo provide detailed explanations for JAMB practice questions, helping you learn from mistakes rather than just tallying scores. The mobile app enables consistent daily practice, which proves more effective than occasional marathon sessions.

Start Preparation Earlier

Most students begin serious JAMB preparation a few months before the exam. This timeline works only if you have strong foundations. Otherwise, start preparing in SS1 or early SS2, allowing time to address gaps, build understanding gradually, and develop genuine competence rather than superficial familiarity.

What Parents Can Do

Active Involvement in Education

Research shows parental involvement significantly impacts student performance. This doesn't mean parents must teach subjects themselves, but they should monitor homework completion, communicate regularly with teachers, create conducive home study environments, and support children's learning with available resources.

Parents should also maintain realistic expectations, avoiding excessive pressure that creates anxiety while encouraging consistent effort. Balance between high expectations and emotional support helps students perform better.

Invest in Quality Education

Where possible, parents should prioritize educational investments: quality schools with proven track records, supplementary lessons for weak subjects, learning resources like textbooks and practice materials, and conducive study conditions at home.

These investments often yield better returns than spending on items that don't directly support learning.

What Schools and Teachers Must Change

Teacher Quality and Training

Schools must employ qualified subject teachers and provide ongoing professional development. Teachers need opportunities to deepen subject knowledge, learn effective teaching methods, and stay updated on examination requirements.

Paying teachers adequately helps attract and retain quality educators. The current situation where talented graduates avoid teaching due to poor compensation hurts educational quality.

Focus on Mastery Over Coverage

Schools should prioritize deep understanding of fewer topics over superficial coverage of extensive syllabi. Teaching fewer concepts thoroughly produces better JAMB results than rushing through comprehensive curricula without ensuring student understanding.

Reduce Class Sizes

Where possible, schools should limit class sizes to enable more individual attention. When reducing class sizes isn't feasible, teachers can use small group work, peer teaching, and differentiated instruction to better address individual student needs within large classes.

Government and Policy Responses Needed

Individual efforts alone cannot solve systemic problems. Government action is essential through increased education funding, teacher training programmes, improved school infrastructure, curriculum reforms emphasizing understanding, and addressing examination malpractice at all levels.

The persistent poor JAMB performance signals that Nigeria's education system requires fundamental reforms, not just marginal adjustments.

Realistic Expectations and Moving Forward

Solving Nigeria's education crisis won't happen overnight. However, individual students can still succeed despite systemic challenges through strategic preparation, addressing personal knowledge gaps, using available resources effectively, and starting preparation early with focus on genuine understanding.

Parents can support their children through active involvement, realistic expectations, and educational investments. Schools can improve by prioritizing teacher quality, focusing on mastery, and creating better learning environments.

The declining JAMB scores reveal uncomfortable truths about Nigerian education. Acknowledging these problems honestly is the first step toward improvement. For current students, understanding why scores are falling helps you prepare differently, avoid common pitfalls, and give yourself the best chance of success despite systemic challenges.