Biology Teacher Scores 37 in JAMB Despite 18 Years of Teaching Experience

A Nigerian biology teacher has become a viral sensation after his JAMB result left many in shock. John Felix Obuighkem, who has been teaching biology for 18 years and holds a university degree in the subject, recently took the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). To his utter dismay, he scored just 37 in biology—the very subject he has mastered and taught for nearly two decades.

Obuighkem took to Facebook to express his disbelief and frustration, calling on the JAMB registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, to review his result. He asserted that it was inconceivable for him to score so poorly in a subject he is not only familiar with but has dedicated his career to teaching.

In his post, Obuighkem passionately argued that he has never performed so poorly in any JAMB examination, even during his student days when the exams were known to be more challenging. He reminisced about the days when JAMB posed questions that were more difficult than today’s exams, stating that he had always scored above 200 during his admission-seeking years.

He further expressed his bewilderment by mentioning that the current JAMB exams had become less rigorous, even including questions on concord and possessive pronouns—topics that were rarely seen in past exams. Obuighkem humorously noted that even in areas where he felt unsure, like comprehension, he believed he missed only one question. Consequently, he found it impossible to fathom how he could score just 37 in biology—a subject he knows intimately and teaches with confidence.

The viral post has sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many users sympathizing with the veteran teacher. Some have questioned the integrity of the examination process, while others speculated about possible errors in the marking system. A few even humorously suggested that JAMB’s grading criteria might have changed, leaving many long-time educators baffled.

Obuighkem’s passionate plea for a review of his result has also ignited a broader conversation about the accuracy of standardized testing and how it may impact educators who have spent years mastering their respective fields. As the post continues to gain traction, many are eager to see if JAMB will respond to the teacher’s call for a reassessment.

The incident highlights the ongoing debates surrounding Nigeria’s educational assessment methods and raises questions about how such discrepancies can occur. While some critics argue that technological errors or manual oversight may be at play, others believe that standardized tests do not always accurately reflect a person’s knowledge or teaching expertise.

Regardless of the outcome, Obuighkem’s situation serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges educators face when their skills and credibility are called into question by standardized test results. The viral nature of his story underscores the public’s keen interest in fairness and accuracy within the country’s educational system.

As more people weigh in on the matter, the focus remains on whether JAMB will take a second look at the teacher’s result. In the meantime, Obuighkem remains steadfast in his belief that a mistake has been made and continues to seek support from those who believe in his credibility and dedication to teaching biology.