The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is considering plans to assess candidates’ critical thinking, reasoning and problem-solving abilities as part of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board’s Registrar, Professor Segun Aina, disclosed this during an interaction with UTME candidates at JAMB’s Abuja Zonal Office as part of activities marking its 2026 Customer Week.
Aina said a committee led by psychometrician Professor Boniface Nworgu was working on a framework to determine how candidates’ decision-making, reasoning and practical life skills could be assessed during the admission process.
He explained that the proposed reform was intended to determine whether candidates could apply their academic knowledge to real-life situations rather than rely solely on textbook learning.
According to him, professional competence requires more than technical knowledge, citing the example of doctors who must exercise sound judgment and understand the consequences of their decisions.
He, however, clarified that the proposal remained under consideration and would not replace existing academic requirements.
Aina said that if the proposal received approval, JAMB would establish a panel of experts to develop an appropriate implementation framework.
The registrar also disclosed that the board was implementing operational reforms aimed at improving candidates’ experiences, strengthening public confidence and reducing the difficulties associated with the admission process.
He said candidates would receive more detailed updates on their admission status instead of vague notifications such as “not admitted” or “admission in progress.”
According to him, JAMB is also working to simplify the process of updating phone numbers and email addresses when candidates lose access to their previous contact details.
He added that the board was strengthening collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to facilitate legitimate corrections to candidates’ names and personal information while preventing identity fraud.
Aina warned that fraudulent attempts to alter personal records would attract legal consequences.
He said his administration was consolidating the reforms introduced by his predecessor, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, particularly in the deployment of technology to improve examination and admission services.
The registrar also defended JAMB’s harmonised examination timetable, acknowledging that it could shorten candidates’ preparation periods but arguing that it helped ensure the timely release of results for the admission process.
He emphasised that the board’s responsibilities extended beyond conducting examinations to ensuring fairness and transparency in the placement of candidates into tertiary institutions.
“Candidates will now get detailed admission status updates instead of vague ‘not admitted’ or ‘admission in progress’ messages,” he said.
Aina added that JAMB’s central responsibility was to regulate interactions between candidates and institutions to ensure that qualified applicants secured admission based on established requirements.
He maintained that candidates should not need personal connections to gain admission, stressing that the board would continue working to guarantee fairness in the process.
