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.