Despite allegations of academic terrorism, REMMY NWEKE in this report, examines the recent mass JAMB result invalidation of 379,997 UTME candidates in Lagos and five South-East states, due to alleged critical lapse in server patch deployment and human error, attributed to outdated server logic with plan to introduce stricter checks and real-time monitoring.
The genesis:
A shocking revelation recently rocked the academic community as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) admitted that a critical lapse in server patch deployment and human error led to the invalidation of results for 379,997 candidates in Lagos and five South-East states who sat the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).According to JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede, a critical lapse in server patch deployment and human error caused the misinterpretation and mis-validation of thousands of exam responses, affecting 157 test centers. The affected states in the South-East region include Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.
This led to punches going to JAMB and its management including allegations of academic terrorism and call for resignation of its leadership.
The Technical Glitch: A closer look
Industry experts pointed out that outdated server logic could cause issues like misinterpreting and mis-validating exam responses due to technical debt, incompatibility, lack of testing, and complexity. If server logic isn't updated or maintained regularly, it may contain technical debt, leading to compatibility issues or errors.
In this case, the outdated server logic in the Lagos cluster, which serves the South-East region, was not compatible with the newer systems or software used to process exam responses. This incompatibility led to the misinterpretation and mis-validation of thousands of exam responses.
Human Error: A contributing factor
Oloyede took full responsibility for the oversight, offering a sincere apology to the affected candidates. "This incident was neither a system failure nor administrative manipulation, but an outright human error," he emphasized. To prevent similar incidents, JAMB plans to introduce stricter deployment checks and real-time monitoring.
The human error in this case, he said, was the failure to apply the vital update to the Lagos cluster servers. This oversight highlights the importance of robust quality assurance processes and regular system updates.
Understanding academic terrorism
Based on the foregoing, some vexed Nigerians including a social justice advocate, Mr. Charles Ogbu, alleged that JAMB purported glitch or human error goes beyond what he termed “Academic terrorism” which should have continued if the likes of Alex Onyia of Educare did not privately conduct investigations into the seemingly failure rate since 2023.
Academic terrorism, Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS gathered, refers to the use of intimidation, harassment, or coercion within academic settings to suppress dissenting views or ideas. While the recent glitch may not be directly related to academic terrorism, it highlights the need for transparency and accountability in academic institutions.
Investigation and response
JAMB engaged IT experts to investigate the technical glitches, collaborating with Educare to analyze over 15,000 authentic response logs and identify the fault. The board promptly acknowledged the error, apologized to candidates, and assured them that verified issues would be rectified.
The prompt response from JAMB demonstrates its commitment to transparency and accountability. By taking ownership of the mistake and working to rectify the situation, JAMB is taking steps to restore confidence among candidates.
As at press time, according to Onyia, between 66-72 per cent of the candidates who participated in the JAMB resit exam scored above 200, imagine.
Restoring confidence
As JAMB navigates this crisis, restoring confidence among nearly two million candidates will be crucial. The board's commitment to upholding the integrity of the UTME will be put to the test as it works to rectify the situation and ensure a smooth examination process moving forward.
To restore confidence, JAMB will need to demonstrate its ability to prevent similar incidents in the future. This may involve implementing new quality assurance processes, providing additional training for staff, and enhancing its communication with candidates.
Conclusion
The recent mass result invalidation by JAMB highlights the importance of robust technical infrastructure and quality assurance processes in academic institutions. While the incident was caused by human error, it also demonstrates the need for transparency and accountability in academic settings. By taking ownership of the mistake and working to rectify the situation, JAMB is taking steps to restore confidence among candidates.
This led to punches going to JAMB and its management including allegations of academic terrorism and call for resignation of its leadership.
The Technical Glitch: A closer look
Industry experts pointed out that outdated server logic could cause issues like misinterpreting and mis-validating exam responses due to technical debt, incompatibility, lack of testing, and complexity. If server logic isn't updated or maintained regularly, it may contain technical debt, leading to compatibility issues or errors.
In this case, the outdated server logic in the Lagos cluster, which serves the South-East region, was not compatible with the newer systems or software used to process exam responses. This incompatibility led to the misinterpretation and mis-validation of thousands of exam responses.
Human Error: A contributing factor
Oloyede took full responsibility for the oversight, offering a sincere apology to the affected candidates. "This incident was neither a system failure nor administrative manipulation, but an outright human error," he emphasized. To prevent similar incidents, JAMB plans to introduce stricter deployment checks and real-time monitoring.
The human error in this case, he said, was the failure to apply the vital update to the Lagos cluster servers. This oversight highlights the importance of robust quality assurance processes and regular system updates.
Understanding academic terrorism
Based on the foregoing, some vexed Nigerians including a social justice advocate, Mr. Charles Ogbu, alleged that JAMB purported glitch or human error goes beyond what he termed “Academic terrorism” which should have continued if the likes of Alex Onyia of Educare did not privately conduct investigations into the seemingly failure rate since 2023.
Academic terrorism, Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS gathered, refers to the use of intimidation, harassment, or coercion within academic settings to suppress dissenting views or ideas. While the recent glitch may not be directly related to academic terrorism, it highlights the need for transparency and accountability in academic institutions.
Investigation and response
JAMB engaged IT experts to investigate the technical glitches, collaborating with Educare to analyze over 15,000 authentic response logs and identify the fault. The board promptly acknowledged the error, apologized to candidates, and assured them that verified issues would be rectified.
The prompt response from JAMB demonstrates its commitment to transparency and accountability. By taking ownership of the mistake and working to rectify the situation, JAMB is taking steps to restore confidence among candidates.
As at press time, according to Onyia, between 66-72 per cent of the candidates who participated in the JAMB resit exam scored above 200, imagine.
Restoring confidence
As JAMB navigates this crisis, restoring confidence among nearly two million candidates will be crucial. The board's commitment to upholding the integrity of the UTME will be put to the test as it works to rectify the situation and ensure a smooth examination process moving forward.
To restore confidence, JAMB will need to demonstrate its ability to prevent similar incidents in the future. This may involve implementing new quality assurance processes, providing additional training for staff, and enhancing its communication with candidates.
Conclusion
The recent mass result invalidation by JAMB highlights the importance of robust technical infrastructure and quality assurance processes in academic institutions. While the incident was caused by human error, it also demonstrates the need for transparency and accountability in academic settings. By taking ownership of the mistake and working to rectify the situation, JAMB is taking steps to restore confidence among candidates.
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