UTME: We’re not responsible for mass failure, low scores – JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has denied being responsible for the alleged mass failure of candidates in the ongoing 2021 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB said contrary to reports, 2021 UTME questions were set in accordance with the laid down syllabus.

The Head, Public Affairs and Protocol of JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, attributed the failure to what he termed “disgruntled candidates, who were ill-prepared for the examination.”

Benjamin said those whose illicit source of income has been blocked were behind reports of mass failure.

He insisted that the 2021 performance was not significantly different from those of previous years.

“The board ordinarily would not have reacted to the half-truth being peddled by some disgruntled candidates, who were ill-prepared for the examination.

“And who, true to all expectations, performed below the expectations of their guardians, that the Board had based its questions on the wrong syllabus.

“It is our belief that based on facts on the ground, every right-thinking Nigerian would question the 6,944,368 figure on which the 14 per cent “pass” is based.

“For instance, in the 2021 UTME, 1, 415,501 registered for both UTME/DE. Out of this figure, 1,340,003 candidates registered for UTME and 75, 498 registered for DE,” he said.

Benjamin disclosed that JAMB ensured that materials within its syllabus are available for candidates on different platforms.

“The syllabus was issued to candidates through the board’s Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS), the CD which is given to candidates after completion of registration,” he said.