JAMB Plans to Assess Life Skills in UTME Exams

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is considering a new process for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) that would assess candidates on life skills and critical thinking. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, announced this initiative during an appearance on a Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) program on October 21.

Aina stated that the proposed changes aim to evaluate candidates beyond their knowledge of traditional school subjects. A committee comprising education stakeholders and experts has been established to recommend how these skills can be integrated into the UTME.

The committee will also determine whether life skills and critical thinking should be tested separately or included in existing subjects. Aina clarified that a candidate’s UTME score should not be viewed as a direct measure of knowledge but rather as a comparative performance indicator against peers.

He noted that the minimum entry score is influenced by the overall performance of candidates in a given examination year.