Why Actress Mary Remmy Njoku Believes JAMB Should Be Scrapped for Students Who Already Passed SSCE

Nollywood actress and producer Mary Remmy Njoku has ignited a powerful debate after publicly questioning the necessity of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam for university admission in Nigeria. She expressed deep frustration over the requirement for students who have already passed their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) to take yet another challenging exam before gaining entry into tertiary institutions.

Taking to social media, Njoku shared her personal ordeal, revealing how JAMB nearly disrupted her academic dreams. Despite multiple attempts, she struggled to gain admission through the exam and only found her path later through Nollywood. She explained, “Speaking from experience, JAMB almost ‘jammed’ my life. Literally. After sitting for it multiple times with no admission, I thank God for Nollywood. That detour gave me purpose.” Yet, her experience left her questioning the fairness and relevance of the entire process.

Her main argument is simple: why force students who have already passed SSCE — the recognized certificate proving secondary school completion — to jump through yet another hoop? Njoku argues that if universities want to be selective, they can simply raise the grade requirements on the SSCE itself, demanding more A’s and B’s in critical subjects. This, she believes, would be a fairer way to assess academic readiness without the added burden of JAMB.

This viewpoint strikes a chord with many Nigerian students and parents who see the JAMB exam as an additional source of anxiety, financial strain, and discouragement. Each year, thousands of bright and capable young people face demoralizing setbacks due to JAMB, which often feels like an unnecessary gatekeeper rather than a fair assessment tool.

Supporters of Njoku’s stance flooded social media with stories echoing similar frustrations. One user wrote, “After acing my SSCE, I was hopeful, but JAMB became a nightmare. I almost gave up on higher education.” The overwhelming sentiment is that JAMB adds a layer of complexity and stress that many feel is unjustified given the rigorous nature of the SSCE.

However, some voices disagree, arguing that JAMB plays an important role in standardizing admissions across Nigeria’s diverse educational landscape. They contend that the SSCE alone cannot adequately assess a student’s readiness for university due to inconsistencies in school standards nationwide. For them, JAMB ensures a level playing field by providing a uniform metric to evaluate all candidates.

Educational experts have long debated the purpose and effectiveness of JAMB. Established initially to centralize and streamline university admissions, JAMB was designed to create a common criterion for students from varied backgrounds. While the SSCE tests secondary school knowledge, JAMB aims to assess the preparedness for higher academic challenges. Still, critics maintain that JAMB has become more of a bottleneck, frustrating many deserving students rather than facilitating their academic progression.

Proposed solutions include reforming the system by integrating SSCE scores more fully into the admission process or granting universities greater autonomy to admit students based on their secondary school results alone. Others suggest overhauling the post-JAMB procedures, which add yet another layer of complexity and stress for applicants.

Njoku’s bold remarks have reignited this ongoing debate. Her success story through Nollywood is inspiring, but she remains empathetic to the struggles of countless students trapped in the cycle of SSCE, JAMB, and post-JAMB exams. Her question remains poignant and relevant: if a student has already proven academic competence through the SSCE, is it necessary to force them to endure yet another daunting exam?

As Nigerians continue to discuss the future of tertiary admissions, Njoku’s stance serves as a crucial reminder that these policies affect real lives and futures. Whether the call to scrap JAMB gains official support or not, it undeniably pushes educational authorities and the public to rethink if the current system truly serves the best interests of Nigeria’s youth.