By Gabriella Ogbu
Nigerians have attributed students’ dismal performance in the recently concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to factors such as social media addiction, hunger, and idleness. The discussion emerged following a prompt by Tribune Online across various social media platforms, seeking insights into the reasons behind the poor performance.
Data from the Joint Admission Matriculation Board revealed that out of the 1,989,668 applicants who registered for the exam, 1,402,470 scored below 200. In response, Nigerians expressed concerns over excessive social media use, lack of motivation, and food shortages as significant contributors to the decline in students’ academic achievements.
On Facebook, user @Amb Olasile emphasized a dwindling interest in education among the populace, with many aiming solely to obtain passing scores without genuine commitment to learning. Another user echoed the sentiment, highlighting the diminishing engagement of today’s youth in educational pursuits, with a greater focus on social media activities.
Meanwhile, Twitter user Doris raised the issue of survival amidst economic hardship, questioning how students can adequately study and excel in their academics when faced with the challenges of daily sustenance.