JAMB to Introduce Critical Thinking, Life Skills in UTME From 2027
JAMB to Introduce Critical Thinking, Life Skills in UTME From 2027
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has outlined a series of reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s admission and assessment system, improving candidate services and aligning its operations with emerging global standards.
In a statement signed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the reforms were highlighted in the latest edition of the JAMB Bulletin following the Board’s participation in the 51st Annual Conference of the International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA), held in Toronto, Canada, from September 27 to October 2, 2026.
The conference, hosted by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) in partnership with IAEA and Vretta Inc., brought together more than 40 assessment agencies from across the world to deliberate on the theme, “Trust, Transparency and Technology in Educational Assessment.”
JAMB was represented at the conference by its Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, alongside the Director of the Enugu Zonal Office, Mrs. Aja Nwachukwu, and the Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.
Discussions at the conference focused on emerging issues including artificial intelligence, academic integrity, digital assessment and the changing competencies required of learners.
A major area of discussion was JAMB’s plan to introduce critical thinking and life skills into the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from 2027.
The Board said the initiative reflected its position that assessment should go beyond subject knowledge and evaluate competencies required by students to function effectively in a rapidly changing world.
JAMB also disclosed plans to expand access to the UTME for Nigerians in the diaspora through the proposed establishment of an examination centre in Ottawa, Canada, expected to commence operations in 2027.
The initiative followed discussions between Aina and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Canada, Prof. Isaac Adewale, during a visit to the Nigerian High Commission in Ottawa.
According to the Board, the proposed Ottawa centre is expected to serve Nigerians resident in Canada and other parts of North America, while also providing an avenue for greater international exposure for Nigerian tertiary education.
JAMB currently conducts the UTME in several countries, including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, The Gambia and Côte d’Ivoire.
On customer service, the Board said Aina had directed SERVICOM Desk Officers to provide timely solutions to candidates’ concerns, with complaints expected to be resolved within periods ranging from minutes and hours to a maximum of three days, in line with the SERVICOM charter.
The Board is also developing J-Care, a customer service and support platform designed to speedily handle candidates’ complaints, enquiries and record-recovery requests.
Through the JAMB Support Portal, candidates will be able to create tickets relating to admissions, profile records and registration issues.
The Registrar also explained that JAMB’s increasing use of new media was intended to take the Board’s messages directly to candidates, particularly through platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, while maintaining its engagement with traditional media.
Aina has further identified Integrity, Service, Governance, Technology and Partnership as the five pillars of his administration.
The pillars are supported by seven key frameworks: Technology Review, ISO Certification, Unified Mobile App, Strategic Communication, Unified Customer Service, Paperless JAMB and Staff Welfare.
JAMB said the initiatives were designed to strengthen institutional capacity, align its operations with international best practices and improve the overall experience of candidates and stakeholders.
The Board said its participation in the IAEA conference, expansion of its international examination network and development of new customer-service platforms demonstrated its commitment to building a more responsive, technology-driven and globally competitive assessment system.
