As reactions continue to trail the admission of errors in the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, education experts have proposed critical reforms to prevent a recurrence.

While commending Oloyede’s courage in accepting responsibility for the lapses, the experts, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, highlighted practical steps the examination body must adopt to improve service delivery in future UTME exercises.

Among the suggested measures are the implementation of real-time feedback mechanisms, more serious attention to the conduct of mock UTME, ruthless and continuous accreditation of exam centres, avoidance of abrupt changes in operational systems, and regular staff training to enhance technological competence in exam administration.Speaking on the issue, the founder of the Education Advancement Centre, Dr Muyiwa Bamgbose, said mock exams should be made compulsory for all candidates and given closer scrutiny to identify potential glitches before the main examination.Instead of declaring profits, JAMB should spend the money on improving the process. The mock exam can reveal glitches and also train candidates in the use of computers. It helps familiarise them with the CBT environment, interface, and time management, thereby reducing anxiety and errors on the actual exam day,” he said.

Also speaking, the Head of School at Peaceville International Academy, Dolapo Fatoki, echoed the call for compulsory mock exams, describing them as essential to identifying and addressing lapses before the actual exam.

She stressed the importance of providing candidates with clear and accessible channels to report anomalies, discrepancies, and grievances during both the mock and main exams.Fatoki also urged JAMB to view exam centre accreditation as an ongoing process, rather than a one-off activity

Accreditation of exam centres must be a living, breathing process. There should be regular audits, unannounced visits, and verification of facilities and personnel competence,” she said.

In addition, she advocated a shift from the current once-a-year UTME format to a more flexible model that allows for multiple sittings throughout the year.

“Why are we still operating a one-window, once-a-year model? The world has moved on. Think of SAT multiple sittings or modular approaches. Spread out exams, reduce stress, and boost fairness. A stitch in time saves nine,”Fatoki added.

A professor of Educational Management, Ben Emunemu, also lent his voice to the discourse, urging JAMB to strengthen communication channels to ensure real-time feedback from candidates, parents, and other stakeholders during the examination process.He also stressed the need for continuous training of JAMB staff and examination officials on the optimal use of technology for examination administration.

“JAMB should enhance its online platform to provide efficient and effective services, including registration, examination scheduling, and result checking. This will help reduce errors, increase transparency, and improve the overall candidate experience.The board should also conduct routine checks and maintenance on its examination delivery servers to prevent technical issues and ensure the smooth execution of exams in future,” Emunemu said.