The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is considering the introduction of life skills and critical thinking assessments into the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as part of efforts to improve how candidates are assessed for admission into tertiary institutions.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, disclosed this on Wednesday during the Good Morning Nigeria programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
He said a committee of education stakeholders and experts had been set up to develop recommendations on how the proposed skills could be assessed, including whether they should be tested separately or integrated into existing UTME subjects.
The proposed reform aims to assess candidates’ reasoning, problem-solving and ability to apply knowledge beyond conventional academic subjects. The committee is also expected to examine whether the current examination adequately predicts candidates’ readiness for higher education.
Prof. Segun Aina also clarified that UTME scores primarily rank candidates against one another, meaning the significance of a score depends partly on the overall performance of candidates in a particular examination year.
The registrar further announced measures to help candidates update personal information, including procedures for those who have lost access to their registered phone numbers or email addresses.
He said a new process also allows candidates to correct certain personal details through the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and align them with their JAMB profiles.
Aina advised candidates to consult JAMB’s official website and social media platforms for details of the new procedures.
The proposed examination changes remain under consideration, with the committee expected to recommend how the additional skills could be incorporated into the UTME.
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