JAMB Glitch Forces Urgent UTME Retake for 380,000 Students

JAMB Glitch Forces Urgent UTME Retake for 380,000 Students

JAMB glitch has thrown the dreams of nearly 380,000 Nigerian students into confusion, prompting the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to announce an urgent retake of the 2025 UTME.

On Tuesday night, JAMB confirmed that 379,997 candidates would have to rewrite the examination due to a large-scale technical failure. The board blamed the breakdown on missing exam materials and faulty systems that crashed in 157 centres nationwide.

Read ALSO: http://JAMB reviews UTME 2025 results as over 78% of students score below 200, raising national concern and calls for fairness. https://thegazette.ng/outrage-soars-as-78-score-below-200-in-utme-2025/

Most of the affected candidates were from Lagos State and parts of the South-East. In Lagos alone, 65 centres were hit, leaving 206,610 students unable to complete their exams. In the Owerri operational zone, another 92 centres failed, impacting 173,387 candidates.

For these young people, the exam day was a nightmare. Some computers refused to load questions, while others shut down mid-exam. Many were confused and scared, unsure if they would be disqualified or simply forgotten.

“I stared at a blank screen for 20 minutes,” said one 17-year-old girl from Enugu. “We kept calling the invigilators, but they couldn’t fix it. We just sat there until time ran out.”

The JAMB glitch came as a shock to many, especially parents who had paid for extra lessons and preparation materials. Some families said the incident left their children in tears. Others were angry and demanded immediate solutions.

JAMB has now responded. The board announced that all affected candidates will be rescheduled to write a fresh examination starting Friday, May 16, 2025.

“To maintain fairness and equal opportunity, we have decided to reconduct the examination for candidates affected by technical failures at 157 centres,” JAMB said in a statement.

The board is already sending out fresh notifications via SMS, email, and direct phone calls. Students can also check their JAMB profiles to confirm their new exam date and venue.

JAMB added that candidates must reprint their exam slips to see their updated schedules. This reprinting process began shortly after the announcement, with candidates urged to act fast to avoid confusion on the day of the retake.

Officials explained that the JAMB glitch was caused by a missing component in the examination package. This affected the smooth running of the computer-based tests in specific zones.

“The glitch was traced to an omission in the examination items, and that caused a failure in specific regions,” a JAMB official told The Gazette News.

The announcement brought a mix of relief and stress for students already sitting for the ongoing WAEC exams. Luckily, JAMB said it reached out to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to prevent a clash.

“WAEC has graciously agreed to accommodate us,” JAMB stated. “We have made arrangements to prevent timetable conflicts, especially for candidates who are supposed to write Agricultural Science on Friday.”

According to the board, most students with conflicting WAEC papers will now take their UTME on Saturday instead. This way, no one has to miss one exam for the other.

JAMB also explained that both WAEC and UTME follow nearly the same syllabus. This means students will not be burdened with studying two completely different materials. However, there is one key difference. The UTME’s Use of English paper includes an additional reading text that carries 10 bonus marks.

Parents and education activists have welcomed the board’s decision. Many praised JAMB for owning up to its mistake and giving affected candidates another shot.

“This is what accountability looks like,” said Mrs. Abimbola, whose son’s exam crashed in Lagos. “We were angry at first, but we’re thankful the board didn’t sweep it under the carpet.”

JAMB said it is working closely with security agencies and technology experts to ensure the glitch doesn’t happen again. The board promised that this second round of exams would be smooth and fair.

The affected students are expected to arrive early at their new exam centres and come with their updated slips, original identification, and other required items.

While emotions still run high, many students now feel hopeful. They have been granted a second chance to prove themselves.

“I’m glad they listened to us,” said a student from Imo State. “Now I can prepare properly again and give it my best.”

Still, some parents worry that the exam timetable shuffle could affect their children’s mental health. They called on schools, teachers, and communities to encourage the candidates and help them stay focused.

“This is not just about exams,” said a youth counsellor in Enugu. “It’s about restoring confidence. These kids were traumatized, and we must support them as they prepare again.”

Experts believe JAMB’s response could serve as a turning point in how major education institutions handle crises. By addressing the issue quickly, and involving WAEC, JAMB may have saved the academic year for thousands.

Looking ahead, stakeholders are urging the board to improve its systems and conduct thorough testing before any future exams. A repeat of this error, they say, could destroy public trust.

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For now, though, students and their families are preparing once more. And while this path has been rough, the retake offers one simple truth: when the system fails, it can still fix itself.

Thanks to quick action after the JAMB glitch, nearly 380,000 students now have their future back on track.