The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), initially saddled with the responsibility of conducting entrance examination known as University Matriculation Examination (UME), for prospective university students in Nigeria, Subsequently, had it's scope of responsibility expanded to include polytechnic, college of education and monotechnique, the expansion warranted a change of name too, to Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with each of the above mentioned cadre of tertiary institutions being allotted different cut-off marks or minimum entry points - a sad development which is unhealthy for the country's educational system. The first question that begs for answer is, why should tertiary institutions have different standards, when they are all producing graduates for different purposes? One should not be seen to be better or higher than the other, the most important concern should be to maintain the unique functions assigned to them; be it university, polytechnic, or college of education, the standard should be the same.
On this note, JAMB has a question to answer, irrespective of pressure, for contributing in lowering the standard of education in Nigeria, as an examination body. First, for promoting preferences and order of importance among the various cadres of tertiary institutions in the country, allotting them different standards in entry requirements. Second, for pegging minimum entry point (cut-off mark) below average (i.e. below half mark of UTME). Why on earth should the minimum entry point be pegged at 180 and above instead of 200 and above, in a 400-questions examination, regardless of cadre of tertiary institutions? This is a genuine call for JAMB to go back to the drawing board and make necessary reconsideration, in order to help uplift the standard of education in Nigeria. Minimum entry point into various tertiary institutions in Nigeria, regardless of cadre, must be pegged at 200 and above, for standard sake.
The discrepancy in standard among the various cadres of tertiary institutions (institutions of higher learning) in Nigeria has also contributed to discrimination of certificates in the labour market for quite a long time. Thanks to the Parliament (The National Assembly - the Senate and the House of Representatives), for always making attempt at bringing the controversial issue to rest, by continuously indicating concern to enact an act that will level the inequality and sort out the dichotomy between the university and polytechnic degrees (BS.c/HND), especially in relation to their rating in the civil service, so that the private sector can emulate. That should be a reliable path to follow, unlike what hitherto held sway in recruitment process, which had minimum entry level for university graduates at grade level-8, while polytechnic's was grade level-7, regardless of certificate's grade. The dismantling of the dichotomy was a good step in the right direction, to help combat the existing discrimination, which is a leading factor of low standard of education in Nigeria.
JAMB CUT-OFF MARK OR MINIMUM ENTRY POINT FOR UNIVERSITIES
In the 2025/2026 academic session, according to the UTME board, JANB, the cut-off mark for universities in Nigeria was 150. Note that, the various individual universities have their standard cut-off mark set, which most usually peg at 180, only very few raise the bar above 180, like the prestigious university of Ibadan and University of Ilorin.
JAMB CUT-OFF MARK OR MINIMUM ENTRY POINT FOR POLYTECHNICS AND COLLEGES OF EDUCATION
100 was set for polytechnics and colleges of education in the 2025/2026 academic session by the examination board. Similarly, colleges of nursing was pegged at 140, and within the past one decade, the standard has remained unchanged.
Unarguably, cut off mark for tertiary institutions' admission should be one of the ways to up the standard of education in Nigeria. It is quite unfortunate to witness abysmally low entry mark being approved by the UTME board (JAMB) and the various tertiary institutions in Nigeria, perhaps for the purpose of attracting more applicants for the purpose of generating revenue; the occurrence is detrimental to standard of education. Sadly, it is not a good omen for the country's future, because of the pivotal role education plays in the society. Adopting low score/mark for entry into the various tertiary institutions is definitely an indicative of or a resultant effect of the fallen standard of education in the country. In view of the above, in as much as attempts are being made to scuttle the dichotomy or disparity between the various tertiary institutions', in terms of their degrees being awarded, disparities in standard should also be erased or bridged, especially in the aspect of minimum entry requirements. In other words, all tertiary institutions in Nigeria should have the same minimum entry score set by JAMB, while it should not in anyway be below average or half mark of the UTME.
No comments:
Post a Comment