By Daniel Akinte
The Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) 2024 results, released on Monday, revealed a startling trend in student performance.
Out of a total of 1,940,000 million candidates, 1,842,464 results were released, while 64,624 were withheld.
The statistics unveiled a concerning reality: 77% of candidates scored below 200, 23% scored 200 and above, 4.2% scored 250 and above, with only 0.5% achieving scores of 300 and above.
Among the released results, 8,401 candidates attained scores of 300 and above, while 77,070 scored 250 and above, leaving a staggering 1,402,490 candidates with scores below 200.
The revelation sparked a flurry of reactions across social media platforms, with users expressing a spectrum of opinions.
Ekenedirichukwu Arodiogbu, a Facebook user, attributed the poor performance to a lack of student dedication, stating: “So it is the fault of JAMB that many candidates scored below 200 when our Nigerian students no longer read their books.”
Similarly, Samuel Olusola lamented the decline in Nigeria’s education system, noting that many students prioritize social media over studying, remarking, “If we are not taking concerted effort, no one would be left in the classroom anymore.”
Others, like Ademola Taiwo Oladitan, expressed little surprise at the results, citing ongoing deficiencies in the educational sector and calling for governmental intervention,”The standard of education falls every day due to inadequacies in the educational sector and will continue to fall until the needful is done by the federal government.”
Ajayi Abolade Solomon echoed this sentiment, labeling the performance as “awful” and urging the government to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the results.
Meanwhile, Magaji Monday Ezekiel highlighted the disparity between academic performance and linguistic proficiency, emphasizing that proficiency in English does not equate to intelligence: “Just because your child is speaking good English language does not mean he’s intelligent, language and knowledge are two different things entirely.”
Oba-Elvis Ikenyenwe underscored the importance of a conducive learning environment, suggesting that poor learning conditions may contribute to subpar performance.
In agreement, Prince Chinedu Arusi pointed to social media as a significant factor in the decline of reading culture, lamenting, “Reading culture has really dropped.
Social media has dealt a heavy blow on our younger generation.” As stakeholders grapple with the implications of the JAMB 2024 results, calls for systemic reforms and renewed focus on education echo across the nation.
