Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 election, recently expressed concerns via X handle about the distressing revelations surrounding the JAMB UTME 2024 results and percentages.
The stark statistics unveiled have ignited a national dialogue on the state of education in Nigeria, shedding light on critical issues that demand immediate attention.
The distribution of scores has raised alarms, with a mere 0.5% of candidates achieving scores of 300 (75%) and above, while a staggering 76% scored below 200 (below 50%). These figures underscore a systemic problem within the education sector, indicating a significant neglect of this vital component crucial for national development. This disparity highlights a glaring gap in the quality of education offered across the country, emphasizing the pivotal role education plays in a nation’s advancement on the Human Development Index (HDI).
Regrettably, Nigeria continues to lag behind in education, evident in its low HDI ranking of 164 out of 191 countries assessed. This places Nigeria significantly below other comparable nations like Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, which boast medium to high HDI rankings. Despite Nigeria’s claim of a literacy rate above 50%, well below the global average of approximately 80%, it still falls behind countries like Iran, Egypt, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and the Philippines with literacy rates exceeding 70%. This disparity underscores the systemic obstacles hindering access to quality education, particularly in rural areas.
The repercussions of the widespread poor performance in the UTME highlight a concerning reality: despite Nigeria’s population exceeding 200 million, the country can only account for approximately 2 million full-time university students. In contrast, Iran, with a population of over 89 million, hosts over 8.2 million students in a single university, the Islamic Azad University. Similarly, Bangladesh, with a population of about 173 million, boasts over 2 million enrolled undergraduates at the National University of Bangladesh.
These disparities emphasize the critical need for immediate action in Nigeria’s education sector. Addressing this challenge requires prioritizing education as a fundamental driver of development by making substantial investments in education, improving teacher training programs, and implementing inclusive policies. A brighter future for Nigeria hinges on transforming its education system to empower its citizens and propel the nation towards progress.
