The recently concluded 2025 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, which saw over 75% of candidates scoring below 200 marks, has sparked serious concern among education stakeholders, raising urgent questions about the state of Nigeria’s education sector. The outcome, mirroring last year’s poor results where 76% of candidates fell below the 200-mark benchmark, highlights the persistent crisis in academic performance and calls for immediate action from government ministries and education agencies.

Despite increased education budgets across several states, such as Oyo State’s allocation of over 21% of its ₦678 billion 2025 budget to education, the dismal results suggest that financial investment alone is not yielding the desired improvements. Observers argue that the real issue lies in the weak implementation and monitoring of educational programs, as well as the declining instructional quality in many schools—particularly some private institutions where profit motives seem to overshadow educational goals.

Experts also point to the stagnation in teacher development and the absence of regular professional training as major setbacks. The call has been made for mandatory teacher upgrades and continuous assessments to ensure educators are well-equipped to meet current learning needs. Furthermore, poor reading habits among students have been identified as a major challenge, underscoring the urgent need for schools to invest in well-equipped libraries that promote independent learning and intellectual growth.

In conclusion, stakeholders insist that improving academic performance will require a holistic approach—addressing not just government funding, but also school administration, teacher quality, parental support, and student discipline. Until all these elements are adequately addressed, the recurring trend of mass failure in national exams like JAMB may continue to tarnish the image of Nigeria’s education system.