2024 UTME Mass Failure: Social Media to Blame?

May 1, 2024 Mustapha Salisu

By Onipede Paul Oyekunle

A striking pattern has emerged, following the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME); a widespread failure that sent waves of shock across Nigeria’s educational system. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced that an unprecedented 76% of candidates scored below the 200-mark level, raising major concerns about the status of education and the variables that influence student performance. Throughout the ensuing conversations, one specific topic has often surfaced: the significance of social media in the lives of students.

The pervasiveness of social media in student’s everyday routines has prompted many to question its influence on academic progress. With platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat commanding hours of attention each day, there have been worries about the student’s ability to divert from studying and learning. However, the issue is complicated, and the link between social media use and academic achievement is not well known. The widespread failure of the 2024 UTME provides a chance to investigate this probable relationship and its larger ramifications for Nigeria’s educational system.

In Nigeria, the digital age has brought about a new era of communication and connectedness, particularly among the youth. The growth of social media platforms has changed the way young Nigerians communicate, study, and enjoy themselves. WhatsApp, for example, is the dominant social media platform in Nigeria, with 95% of internet users aged 16 to 64 using the app. This instant messaging application has surpassed traditional texting and phone calls as a regular communication tool.

Following closely, Facebook’s reach exceeds 36 million members, indicating a considerable presence in the social media space. Its user-friendly layout and diverse features make it a hub for not just social interaction, but also news distribution and company promotion. Instagram and TikTok, both recognized for their visual and creative content, have carved themselves a considerable niche. Instagram‘s emphasis on photographs and videos reflects the youth’s need for expressive and immediate sharing, but TikTok’s short-form video output has become a cultural phenomenon, influencing trends and entertainment.

The use of social media among students is widespread. As of January 2023, Nigeria had 31.6 million active social media users. The youth, who make up a sizable component of this population, are not passive consumers, but active contributors, generating and sharing information at record rates. However, the influence of this participation on academic objectives is still being debated. While some claim that social media offers educational information and cooperation opportunities, others point to possible diversions and time spent away from study.

Social media adoption in Nigeria is vibrant and firmly embedded in the young culture. Its impact on communication, education, and entertainment cannot be emphasized. The benefits of social media in education include continuous learning and lifelong education, expanded teacher-student interactions, active participation and student engagement, self-paced and self-directed learning, access to expertise and industry insights, promoting creativity and digital skill development, supportive online study groups, and peer networks.

Potential distractions and negative impacts of excessive social media use, on the other hand, include distraction and reduced attention span, mental health concerns, cyberbullying, addiction, and the fear of missing out (FOMO). The 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results have become a focal point of educational discourse in Nigeria. A thorough review of the performance records indicates an alarming tendency of underachievement among candidates.

According to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), just 0.5% of the 1,842,464 applicants who took the exam scored more than 300. This means that just 8,401 applicants received what is considered an exceptional score. Furthermore, as previously indicated, 76% of applicants, or 1,402,490 individuals, scored less than 200. This harsh figure emphasizes the urgency of the problem and the necessity for a thorough investigation into the root causes.

Several variables have been proposed as contributing to the massive failure reported at the 2024 UTME. Stakeholders have cited the quality of education, the status of educational infrastructure, and student readiness as potential explanations. Furthermore, there has been discussion on the influence of social media and technology on students’ study habits, with some claiming that the distractions afforded by these platforms may have contributed to the low performance. The digital era has forced the development of regulatory frameworks governing the use of social media. In Nigeria and across Africa, these policies seek to strike a balance between protecting individuals’ rights and maintaining order and security in the digital environment.

In Nigeria, the usage of social media has legal ramifications for privacy and cybersecurity. In 2019, the Nigerian Senate presented a law to control social media use and combat the spread of false news and hate speech. If passed, the law would impose compliance requirements to prevent legal implications for both users and platforms.

Furthermore, Nigeria’s federal government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has proposed a law intended to regulate digital platforms, to repeal the National Broadcasting Commission Act. This proposed law emphasizes the necessity for control over social media platforms, which are viewed as a “monster” that must be dealt with. Educators, students, and legislators must work together to integrate social media into education and society as a whole. Below are some suggestions for each category to consider:

For Educators: Integrating Social Media into Pedagogy in a Responsible Way

● Set Clear Guidelines: Establish standards for using social media in the classroom to ensure it fulfills instructional goals.

● Instructional Tool: Use social media platforms to disseminate instructional information, spark class debates, and enable project collaboration.

● Professional Development: Continue studying digital literacy to properly use social media in teaching practices.

● Privacy and Safety: Teach and enforce best practices for privacy and security to safeguard both students and instructors.

● Encourage critical thinking among kids using social media.

For Students: Managing Social Media Use to Improve Academic Performance.

● Time management: Set aside certain hours for social media use that do not conflict with study schedules or academic commitments.

● Follow educational accounts, join study groups, and engage in intellectual conversations on social media sites.

● Be aware of the digital imprint you leave on social media and how it may affect your future academic and professional chances.

● Balance and Wellbeing: Maintain a good mix of social media and offline activities for mental and physical well-being.

For the Government: Regulating Social Media Without Stifling Innovation

● Collaborative Regulation: Work with digital businesses, academics, and civic society to create policies that safeguard users while not impeding technology innovation.

● Transparency and accountability: Require social media businesses to disclose their algorithms and content control rules.

● Promote Digital Literacy: Set up national initiatives to increase digital literacy and educate individuals to navigate the digital realm responsibly.

● Encourage innovation in social media technologies by creating a regulatory framework conducive to experimentation and growth.

If these recommendations are well-implemented, stakeholders may collaborate to ensure that social media is used in a way that promotes education and societal well-being while also creating an atmosphere conducive to innovation.

It is equally important for schools, governments, and the technology sector to work together to promote appropriate social media use. Educators should use social media in pedagogy in ways that promote learning while emphasizing digital literacy and safety. Students must be guided on how to successfully manage their social media use so that it complements their academic goals. Policymakers should create policies that safeguard consumers and encourage healthy digital habits while not stifling the inventive spirit that drives technology innovation.

As we stand at the crossroads of the digital revolution and educational reform, let us take the route of collaboration and creativity. Together, we can create a future in which social media serves as a stimulus for educational achievement and societal improvement.

Onipede Paul Oyekunle is an Independent Researcher and Writer. He can be reached via onipedepaulekiti@yahoo.com