Many children sitting for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Yobe State are facing significant hardships due to poor scheduling and lack of accommodation and support.
Reports from Potiskum reveal that numerous candidates have been assigned to sit for exams as early as 6:30 AM, in locations far from their hometowns, with no government or institutional support for safe lodging, many students are forced to travel or sleep in unsafe, unfamiliar environments to meet the early morning schedule.
Parents and community leaders have raised concerns, especially given the prevalent security challenges in North East, where night travel is considered highly risky due to insurgent activities and poor road conditions.
“It is unacceptable that children are being subjected to this kind of treatment just to write a national examination,” said one concerned parent in Potiskum. “Some had to travel over 100 kilometers the night before, with nowhere safe to stay.”
Education advocates argue that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) should consider local realities such as insecurity, transportation barriers, and the age of candidates when allocating centers and exam times.
The situation has prompted calls for urgent intervention by both the state and federal governments to ensure that candidates can write their exams safely and without undue stress. Stakeholders are urging JAMB to re-evaluate its scheduling system, especially in conflict-affected regions like Yobe, to protect the safety and well-being of students.
