According to JAMB, out of over 1.9 million candidates who sat the examination across the country, a whopping 1,402,490 scored below the average mark of 200.
The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result recently released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) with only 23 percent successful candidates has continued to raise concerns among stakeholders in the country.
According to JAMB, out of over 1.9 million candidates who sat the examination across the country, a whopping 1,402,490 scored below the average mark of 200.
Many Nigerians have expressed dissatisfaction with the results and some of them have blamed the mass failure on addiction to social media platforms and parents' negligence.
Sharing his thoughts, the Managing Director of UpdateAfrika Communications, Dr Joseph Effiong, said the alarming failure may be connected to the harsh economic reality that has divided the focus of many Nigerians, including students.
He noted that the quest for daily bread amid rising food inflation and high cost of living was enough reason to divert students' attention from adequate studying.
"Many of the students are from a poor background who go as far as assisting their parents in scouting for livelihood. Is it not shocking that some of these children have suddenly become breadwinners given the helpless situation of vulnerable parents?
“Tell me, how do you expect these ones to be dedicated to their studies, you cannot read or assimilate on an empty stomach," he said.
The public relations expert also urged the government to provide a conducive learning environment crucial to excellent learning output for youths.
He said, "Are there enough teachers in our schools? How well are they adequately prepared or preparing students with the requisite content for examinations like the UTME?
“These questions are still begging for answers. This trend of failure further highlights a need for a thorough examination of Nigeria's educational ecosystem. Quality teaching, accessible resources, and parental involvement are key factors in ensuring the academic success of students."
He called for collective efforts of stakeholders to nip the trend of failure in the bud.