JAMB Moves to Scrap Cut Off Marks
The statement said children of the rich also participated in theUnified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and if they
do not get the required cut-off marks, they proceeded abroad
to further their studies.
It said their less privileged counterparts who could not afford
such luxury stay behind still trying to get access that might
never come.
“Let institutions admit what they want according to their
needs. This means that if a university wants 250 as minimum
cut off marks, why not let it be and if another want less, then
so be it.
“If a polytechnic like Yaba College of Technology in Lagos
wants 250 students let it admit and if Gboko Polytechnic in
Benue wants less than 200 let it be.
“Institutions should be known for their individual quality and
not collective standard. This will foster positive competition
for the overall good of our tertiary institutions,” the statement
said.
The statement urged Nigerians to critically reflect on the
development for the board to take action that would be for the
good of the country’s education as well as the future of the
Nigerian child.e Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board(JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede has called for a national debate
on the propriety of cut off marks saying institutions should be
allowed to determine the kind of candidates they wanted.
A statement by the board’s Head, Media and Information, Dr
Fabian Benjamin made the disclosure yesterday in Lagos
adding that such change would be possible with the ongoing
reforms in the establishment.
The statement said that the uniformity of cut of marks did not
in any way make sense when Colleges and Polytechnics admit
for NCE and Diplomas.
It said the universities on the other hand, admitted for
degrees and yet all candidates were subjected to the same
cut off marks.
The statement expressed worries over class opportunities as
it affected the distribution of admission resources, noting that
the rich had multiple opportunities including going abroad for
studies.
It said the poor only had the opportunity of struggling for the
scarce access within the country.