JAMB to Add Life Skills and Critical Thinking to University Admission Exam

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is planning to introduce life skills and critical thinking into the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This initiative aims to better assess candidates seeking admission into universities.

JAMB’s new registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, shared these plans during an interview on the Good Morning Nigeria program on NTA. He explained that the changes would help evaluate candidates’ abilities beyond just their knowledge of school subjects.

Aina emphasized that the minimum score needed to enter university does not fully reflect a candidate’s knowledge. Instead, it ranks candidates against each other. He noted that if most candidates score high, a score just below that can seem low, regardless of the actual knowledge behind it.

The proposed reforms are part of a larger review of the UTME framework. A committee of education experts will make recommendations on how to assess these new skills, considering whether they should be separate from existing subjects or integrated into them.

In addition to these changes, JAMB is making it easier for candidates to update their personal information. Those who have lost access to their registered phone numbers or email addresses can now change them through JAMB’s procedures. A new process also allows candidates to align their details with the National Identification Number (NIN) system.

Aina stated that previously, candidates could not change their names or birth dates in their JAMB profiles, which had caused issues for many. Now, candidates can correct these discrepancies, helping those whose admission plans were affected.

For more information on these updates and other services, candidates are encouraged to check JAMB’s official website and social media platforms.