Following the release of the minimum cut-off mark for 2017/2018 admission into tertiary institutions across the country, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday lashed out at the Federal Government describing the move as “a sad policy decision for the future of Nigeria.”
Reacting to the decision in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan, Chairman ASUU, University of Ibadan, Dr Deji Omole accused the President Muhammadu Buhari led FG of having a dream of destroying Nigeria education
It would be recalled that, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede had in agreement with other stakeholders announced 120 and 100 as the minimum scores for admission into University and Polytechnic respectively.
He was quoted saying, “30 % of those in higher institutions do not take JAMB or have less than the cut-off marks. The admission process is now automated with direct involvement of the registrar of JAMB for final approval. We have agreed to regularize admissions that were done under the table this year. From next year we will not accept anything like that.”
Omole who accused the JAMB registrar of presiding over illegality, insisted that the decision on the cut-off mark is a sad policy decision for the future of Nigeria, particularly her education.
According to Omole, rather than sanctioning the identified universities who admitted over 17,000 students illegally, the JAMB registrar simply regularised illegality and lowered cut-off marks to favour the interests of the friends of government who owns private universities and are hell bent on destroying public education.
While reiterating the call for the scrapping of JAMB for out-living its useful existence, Omole said students should apply directly to universities of their choice for admission.
The ASUU boss who noted that to think of admitting into the tertiary education system in the country with 30percent score is to plant doomed future for Nigeria.
He said: “It is sad that the present administration’s dream was to destroy education in Nigeria.
“Where are those the JAMB registrar said entered universities illegally? which universities admitted them? If 30percent did not take JAMB and found their way into the university system is that not corruption and a message that JAMB is not significant anymore? What sanction did those who did the illegal thing receive other than regularization of illegality?
“We are watching because long before now we have said that JAMB has outlived its usefulness. Let the universities set their unique standards and those who are qualified can come in. 120/400 is 30percent. Even in those days 40percent was graded as Pass. But now JAMB said with F9 which is scoring 30percent you can be admitted. They deliberately want to destroy education.
“Even for polytechnic 100 marks is 25 percent. It is sad. And that is where we are in Nigeria. They want to destroy public education at all cost. This is not setting standard for education in Nigeria. It is purely lowering standards and digging grave for the future. This is why ASUU is currently on the struggle to influence the government to do the needful for education in Nigeria.”
