PRESS STATEMENT

The deepening crisis in Nigeria’s education system is becoming more glaring with every passing examination cycle. From the failure of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to the latest debacle by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the failures of key examination bodies are no longer isolated technical issues—they reflect the broader collapse of a system neglected and underfunded by successive governments.

The ongoing WAEC examinations have thrown countless working-class families into distress. Reports from across the country show students sitting for exams late into the night, many forced to rely on mobile phone flashlights to write their papers in poorly lit centres. On the day of the English Language paper, numerous students returned home late at night, while others slept over at school premises due to how late the exams ended. These are not signs of an education system in control, but symptoms of a sector in disarray.

WAEC, in response to public outrage, claimed the delays were part of “efforts to curb examination malpractice, particularly the leakage of question papers.” However, this justification fails to address the root causes: overcrowded and under-resourced schools, demoralized teachers, and a lack of investment in examination infrastructure. It is no surprise that cheating persists in a system where students are crammed into dilapidated classrooms without adequate learning materials, and teachers are overworked and underpaid.

Similarly, JAMB’s recently concluded UTME has been mired in controversy. The initial release of results sparked outrage nationwide as over 1.5 million candidates failed the exam. Candidates—including teachers and high-performing students—publicly rejected the results, citing discrepancies and demanding transparency. It took public pressure before JAMB admitted a “glitch” and agreed to reconduct the exams for affected candidates. These errors are not technical blips; they are products of neglect and incompetence bred by years of chronic underfunding.

This crisis is taking a heavy toll on the working class. Families already battling high costs of living must now shoulder additional burdens to support children through an education system that is increasingly hostile to the poor. The refusal of the Tinubu-led administration to prioritize education in national budgets only compounds the problem. In both budgets passed under this regime, allocation to education has remained at a meagre 7 percent—well below the UNESCO-recommended minimum of 15–20 percent for developing nations. At the same time, over 20 percent of the national budget is earmarked for debt servicing.

The message is clear: this government is more committed to repaying international creditors and sustaining elite privileges than investing in the future of Nigerian youth.

A Call to Action

As long as capitalism dominates the organization of our economy, education will remain a privilege for the few rather than a right for all. The failures of JAMB and WAEC, the stress placed on students, and the underfunding of public schools are not accidents—they are features of a system that prioritizes profits, political prestige, and privatization over the needs of the working majority.

We must reject this system. Workers, students, and the oppressed must unite to demand free, quality education funded by public wealth—not by squeezing the masses. We call on trade unions, student bodies, community organisations, and progressive movements to begin building a nationwide campaign to demand increased public funding for education, democratic control of schools and exam bodies, and an end to all policies that place undue pressure on poor families.

Only through mass struggle and socialist transformation can we guarantee an education system that serves the majority, not the market. We must fight not just for better exams, but for a society where every child—regardless of background—has the right and opportunity to learn, thrive, and contribute to humanity.

Signed

Aj. Dagga Tolar

General Secretary, MSA

08034513073.