Alex Onyia, CEO of EduCare and a prominent education
advocate, has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the Joint
Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) fraud detection system following
the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). He asserts that the
system is fundamentally flawed and has unjustly penalized numerous candidates.
Key
Allegations and Findings
- Flawed
Fraud Detection Algorithm: Onyia criticized
JAMB's fraud detection algorithm as "completely flawed," arguing
that its methodology lacks logic and leads to erroneous accusations of
malpractice against innocent candidates. He emphasized the need for a
comprehensive review to prevent further victimization.
- Vendor
Accountability: Highlighting systemic issues, Onyia
pointed out that JAMB does not directly own the Computer-Based Test (CBT)
centers but relies on third-party vendors. He called for these vendors to
be publicly scrutinized and sanctioned for their roles in the examination
mishaps, including technical glitches and administrative failures.
- Massive
Result Discrepancies: After invoking the Freedom of
Information Act, Onyia discovered that over 300,000 candidates across
Lagos and Owerri zones were wrongly scored, leading to rescheduled exams
in those areas. He also noted alarming patterns, such as top-performing
students receiving inexplicably low scores.
- Mental
Health Concerns: Onyia reported receiving over 100
messages from distressed students, some expressing suicidal thoughts due
to unexpected poor results. He underscored the psychological toll of the
flawed system on young candidates.
Legal and Systemic Reforms
- Legal
Action: In response to the widespread
issues, Onyia is leading a legal initiative involving over 8,000 students
preparing to sue JAMB. The plaintiffs demand transparency, including
access to individual marking sheets and the ability to dispute
questionable scores
- Calls
for Transparency and Efficiency: Onyia advocates
for immediate result releases post-examination and the provision for
candidates to review their answers. He also criticized the current
registration process, citing inefficiencies like server downtimes that
force students to register at inconvenient hours
These developments highlight the urgent need for
systemic reforms within JAMB to restore credibility and ensure fairness in
Nigeria's tertiary admission processes.
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