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Tag: JAMB

  • UTME score no guarantee for admission – Registrar

    UTME score no guarantee for admission – Registrar

    The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says that only a combination of JAMB cut-off marks, post-UTME, O’ level results and other admission criteria as determined by institutions can ensure candidates’ admission.

    Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the JAMB registrar, disclosed this at an intensive Training and Sensitisation Forum on Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) for the 2017/2018 academic session on Thursday in Abuja.
    Oloyede said that scoring higher than the minimum cut-off marks did not guarantee admission but made candidates eligible for admission consideration.
    He added that institutions determined the institutional, programme and course cut-off marks and other admission criteria in exercise of their autonomy.
    According to him, the cut-off mark by JAMB is only a threshold below which no institution can admit candidates.
    “JAMB is not an examination body rather it is a ranking body. If there are enough spaces in the tertiary institutions there may not be need for UTME.
    “ JAMB is a screening body to rank already qualified candidates. It is a coordinating and clearing house.
    “The cut-off mark is not a pass or fail mark. It is not the total score but one of many factors such as post-UTME (where applicable), O’ Level results scoring, e.t.c.,” he explained.
    He added that regulating agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), among others could decide the admission quota for institutions.
    He further explained that JAMB introduced CAPS so as to ensure that every UTME candidate got fair treatment.
    Oloyede said with CAPS, candidates now have the choice to either accept or reject admission offer.
    He, however, advised candidates to ensure that they indicate the acceptance or rejection of admission online and timely to enable the processing of onward admission.
    He, therefore, urged institutions to comply with their advertised criteria for admission including the cut-off marks.
    Oloyede also said that Nigeria operated the same system of admission procedure with other countries such as China, Iran, Republic of Georgia, Spain and Turkey.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that JAMB in Aug. 22, at the policy meeting by institutions decided to peg the 2017/2018 UTME cut-off marks for degree awarding institutions at 120.
    The meeting also pegged at 100 cut-off marks for admissions for National Diploma (ND) and Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE), among others.

  • JABU installs Ooni of Ife grand patron

    JABU installs Ooni of Ife grand patron

    • As N2.5billion Endowment Fund preparation takes a quantum leap

    Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Osun State has installed the paramount ruler of the Yoruba race, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife as her Grand Patron for the N2.5billion endowment fund raising programme.

    Speaking in a closed door meeting at the palace of His Imperial Majesty, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, Chief Executive Officer, Mutual Benefits Life Assurance Ltd and Chairman, JABU Endowment Committee presented the Ooni of Ife with the letter from the University.

    Dr Ogunbiyi disclosed that JABU is set to stir a radical change in the education sector of the country via the endowment fund for the University. Ogunbiyi revealed that the essence of the fund-raiser is to ensure that all the necessities needed to groom students in JABU is adequately installed with the necessitated manpower in place.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sola Fajana and Registrar, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Barrister Wale Aderibigbe unanimously showered His Imperial Majesty with appreciation for not only accepting the honorary degree bestowed upon him; but also for adding glamour to the 7th Convocation ceremonies of the University with his presence.

    Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife, appreciated the JABU delegation for deeming him worthy for the position; adding that he will do all he can to see the vision for the endowment become a reality.

    Recounting history, the Ooni of Ife revealed that his predecessor, Oba Sijuade Olubuse II had the best interests of JABU at heart; a mutual interest and realignment of values between the past and the present.

    He however gave kudos to the Dr. Ojerinde, a front-liner in ensuring that education in Nigeria is at its peak in Nigeria, for the role he played, and is currently playing in JABU and in Ife. He prayed the former Director General of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the former Registrar of the National Examination Council as well as West African Examination Board Chairman not to relent in the disposition of his duties.

    Present on the JABU Delegation were; Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Professor Anthony Imevbore, members of JABU Endowment Committee, Registrar and Vice Chancellor, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Osun State.

  • FEC orders probe of past JAMB, NIMASA chiefs

    FEC orders probe of past JAMB, NIMASA chiefs

    Forensic probe of some government agencies has been ordered.

    The exercise is to recover unremitted revenues, according to Minister of Finance Mrs Kemi Adeosun, who briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    With Mrs Adeosun were Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma and Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Femi Adesina.

    According to her, some of the government agencies suspected to be diverting government revenues will be made to account for the past revenues.

    She said the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), which had been remitting N3 million annually, remitted N5 billion this year alone and disclosed that it had N3 billion more to remit to the government’s purse this year.

    The minister also listed past management of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) among the offenders.

    She said: “Secondly, we spoke about revenue generation. The VAIDS Programme is ongoing and we are having quite a positive response in terms of tax compliance.

    “We also reported on the progress made by a number of our agencies some of whom have reported very significant increases in the amount paid into the consolidated revenue fund.

    “Council discussed JAMB, which recorded significant progress and NIMASA as well as others and gave us the charge to really go and look at these agencies, look in some cases the past management of those agencies and see where those agencies were leaking and to encourage agencies that haven’t done so to continue with efficiencies,” she said.

    Asked to disclose the figures expected from the agencies, Mrs Adeosun said: “The highest amount that JAMB has ever remitted to the consolidated revenue fund before this management was N3 million. This year, so far, they have done N5 billion and the Minister of Education reported that they have additional N3 billion that they are ready to remit, which will take this year’s figure alone to N8 billion.

    “Now they have not increased their charges nor their fees. So the question that Council members were asking was that where were all these monies before?

    “So the directive was given that we must call those who were the heads of those agencies and similar ones to account and that is what we intend to do.”

    She added: “It’s a similar story with other agencies and these are the leakages which we are now blocking. These are the monies in the consolidated fund that is now being applied in the projects that really need to get the economy moving. These are the monies that are missing that has led us to the position we are in. It is the grandest looting that this administration action has come in to address.”

    The minister also disclosed that FEC approved for Nigeria to rejoin the African Trade Insurance Agency.

    She said: “This is an agency that is out to provide risk guarantee for private investors coming into Nigeria as well as exporters from Nigeria.

    “It will provide risk guarantees, so instead of projects asking for sovereign guarantees, we will be able to provide that risk mitigation through the African Trade Insurance Agency. Many other countries are already members, so Nigeria will also be joining.

    “This agency has an A rating international and is able to guarantee long term projects. So, what we see as a result of this is that there will be increased level of investments particularly PPP where every often the investors want some guarantee from the government. Instead of the government issuing sovereign guarantee directly, this agency will step in and issue it. It is very similar to MIGA, the Multi-lateral Insurance Guarantee Agency that is owned by the IFC.”

    She went on “My second activity was part of the briefing on the economy and to speak to the fiscal conditions and outlook.

    “As you know, we are on the part way of resetting the economy and adjusting permanently to a sort of lower oil pricing.

    “The recent announcement of the exit from recession we see as statically backed indicator that we are moving in the right direction.

    “We recognised that there is a lot to be done. I briefed the council on various fiscal initiatives that we are pursuing. These include continued fiscal consolidation and cost efficiency, driving cost savings in government; there is still a great need to do so.

    “I have some progress report on the work we have done with payroll where we are still seeing contraction. Every time we put agencies into our automated payroll system we see contraction and we intend to continue with that.

    “So, in summary, the outlook is positive. We did some comparative analysis in June 2014 with oil price of $109, federation allocation was N844 billion and in June 2017 it was down to N318 billion, just to give you an idea  of how much income the country has really lost in the last few years.

    “So, we are adjusting very strongly and we believe if we continue with this trajectory not only will we stay permanently out of recession but, more importantly, we will have a positive and growing economy what works for all Nigerians which is our aim.” she said

    Udoma Udo Udoma said his ministry briefed the Council on the recent 2017 Second Quarterly Report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

    He said: “We were encouraged by the GDP growth rates. The report is very encouraging for the government as it shows that we are on the right direction.”

    The Minister of Water Resources disclosed that he briefed FEC on floods and possible threats of flood.

    He said there was no threat of flood in the country.

    The Ministry has observatory units in Niamey and Lokoja, he said, adding: “If there is any indication of significant rise or threat to lives and properties, we will promptly issue warning alerts.

    “For now, there is no cause for alarm. We cannot stop the flood but we can provide early warnings.”

  • JAMB assures candidates of fairness in admission process

    JAMB assures candidates of fairness in admission process

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has said it would ensure fairness, equity and all-inclusiveness in the admission process.

    JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede said this when he led management team of the board on a courtesy visit to the Ona of Abaji, His Royal Highness, Adamu Baba Yunusa, in Abuja.

    Prof. Oloyede, who said the board has created the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to monitor admission processes, urged candidates who feel cheated in admission processes to protest to the board.

    He said: “JAMB will always contribute not only to national development but to the development of the immediate community. This has been the cardinal principle of the board. Part of our policy is to ensure equity in admission that is why we make sure that every segment of this great country is not shortchanged in the admission process.

    “We have created opportunity for people who feel cheated to protest to JAMB and we are very prompt in responding to that. We will continue to promote fairness, equity and all-inclusiveness in the admission process.

    The JAMB registrar also said increased rate of examination malpractices in the country was not good for the development of Nigeria.

    He said a situation where students want to pass examinations at all cost has become a national problem which is not good for the development of the nation.

    Prof. Oloyede said: “We are also soliciting your support in making sure that the youths who represent the focus of JAMB mandate are encouraged to go into education, to make sure that they are part and parcel of the development of this great nation.

    “We have come to also solicit the support of your Highness on how to curb the menace of examination malpractice in the communities. We believe that what we have as a national problem now where students want to pass exams at all cost whether by fair or foul means is not good for the development of the nation.

    “Rather, what we should encourage is absolute sincerity and dedication, honesty in accessing the educational facilities of the country.

    “We also believe that some of the facilities we have, particularly for us in JAMB, we talk about computer based test centres. These centres we do not have enough in the FCT given the large number of applicants in this place.

    “We want to encourage you to urge your sons and daughters who are endowed to setup private CBT centres with appropriate facilities that will make them qualify for the registration by JAMB.”

    Oloyede assured the monarch that the board would continue to contribute to national development.

  • The coup against JAMB

    ir: Looking at the crop-of people who took the decision to put the minimum JAMB score which ranks a candidate high enough for admission into Nigerian  Universities at 120 out of 400, their academic credentials are presumably impeccable. They are the intelligentsia, first class academics who graduated from being exceptional undergraduate students to becoming academics who also taught students following or along with excellent  postgraduate training abroad, sometimes at home.

    One of the revelations of the unfolding saga is the disclosure by JAMB that many universities had been admitting students who scored lower than the approved minimum cut-off set by JAMB. The universities that did this were headed by supposed egg heads and those universities effectively show that many of our academics are overrated.

    Agreeing to lower the minimum qualifying or ranking score for admission seekers into universities to 120 is tantamount to condescending and giving in to criminality. The symbolism of a 30 percent as an acceptable score can never look good whether JAMB exams are ranking examinations or qualifying examinations.

    Perhaps what JAMB should do in response to this is to extend the frontiers of its own battles in the war against corruption by naming and shaming the culprit professors. JAMB could also limit its role to conducting examinations and releasing the results while totally removing itself of the role of setting or announcing any cut off marks. By doing this, mediocre institutions which indulge in backdoor admissions will continue to expose themselves.

    JAMB has also told us that many students go abroad to get university degrees from glorified secondary schools. This only confirms that the problem with JAMB cut-off mark is only symbolic of greater national problems.  At this point, the vice-chancellors need the courage to mind their instincts and take a departure from opposing ASUU at all times. They should join forces with ASUU by demanding for better funding for universities to expand carrying capacities and also join them in demanding for reasonable wages.

    Until this is done, we will no doubt continue to see professors and other scholars who deserve EFCC handcuffs. Being guests of EFCC will also remain a trend among academics, as long as fresh graduates in organisations like the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF), Central Bank of Nigeria and others earn as much and even more than professors. It is therefore not so far-fetched to see some professors who feel it is justifiable to extort students, collect kickbacks from contractors and award themselves illegal furniture allowances of over N5 million annually as some Vice-Chancellors are reported to be doing.

     

    • Mubarak Oladosu,

    University of Ilorin.

  • The danger of JAMB’s cut-off mark

    The danger of JAMB’s cut-off mark

    It is no longer news to that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has set a new record with its recent policy. An all-time low cut-off mark of 120 was benchmarked for universities, 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education.

    Barely a decade ago, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which is set by JAMB used to be the most dreaded in  the whole of the federation, after top professional examinations, such as ICAN, etc.

    UTME used to be regarded as the true test for the best and brightest as most candidates hardly scaled through in one sitting. Such was the horror of the examination that it became a popular saying in Nigerian local English (pidgin) that: “JAMB don jam that boy/girl”.

    Passing UTME then at the second attempt would certainly make anyone a hero in his immediate environment, and most likely win such candidate a slot in his or her school’s hall of fame. It was a thing of pride for the parents as well. This writer was one of those who wrote the very last Unified Matriculation Examination (UME) before it was later changed to UTME. I was privileged to pass in just one attempt but it was not without sweat.

    I felt I was going to read my life out. I spent the last two weeks to my UME with a now retired principal, who was always challenging me to study hard. But, he was taken aback and criticised the rigour I subjected myself to while preparing for the examination.

    That was going to be the first and the last time my dad ever told me to please study hard. Same can be said for people who wrote theirs prior to 2009 and a little after then. It is also true that many never considered going to universities because of the JAMB hurdle, and as such, they resorted to what was the easiest option then – preliminary studies and diploma courses.

    With the new JAMB policy, who is ever going to go through the rigour of extensive reading in preparing for UTME? Who is ever going to celebrate a so-called successful candidate with 120 score out of a possible 400?

    In less than a decade ago, scoring 120 won’t even get a candidate into the Colleges of Education or polytechnics, much less a university admission. It is crystal clear that the reduction in the cut off mark does no candidate any good. Rather, higher institutions will benefit more in terms of generating more money to run their operation. But, should this be the aim of education?

    I have since wondered if the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, and the JAMB Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, are aware that admitting students with 120 score in JAMB is equivalent to passing university students who scored 25/100 in a course.

    While some may argue that the cut-off marks count little seeing institutions will conduct their post-UTME, is it not exasperating to know that the Ministry of Education considers anyone with such abysmal score of 120 worthy of admission into our universities? The policy also clearly stated that the highest cut-off mark any institution can fix (for any course) is 180. That, at its best, is mediocrity at its peak.

    As it stands, the rationale behind this policy is still clumsy and up for anyone’s guess. But one thing that is so obvious is that, with the new cut-off marks, the number of applicants to institutions will skyrocket and this means more money for the institutions. The policy also gives room for exploitation and inconsistency, because with a swell pocket and right connections, candidates who scored 120 could be admitted at the expense of brilliant candidates who scored250.

    Now, we know how much fortune higher institutions in Nigeria stand to garner from this policy. One thing we really don’t know is how badly our education would have been affected. No matter the rationale behind this policy, to admit students with 120 scores into our universities is a great disservice to our beloved nation. Every well-meaning Nigerian must see this policy as an aberration that must be condemned. If nothing is done against this bizarre policy, it could prove to be the final nail in the coffin our education.

  • JAMB could be more forthright

    Sir: Sunday, August 27, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) explained why it reduced “the cutoff for university degree for the 2017 academic year” from 180 that it used to be, to 120 only. The explanation given by JAMB is that it was “a collective decision of stakeholders in the education sector”. But that was an understatement which put Nigerians in the dark, regarding the underlying rationale for the collective decision. It was discovered that in other countries, such as in Ghana, Nigerian students are admitted into universities based simply on secondary school leaving certificate and not on the Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by JAMB. Did the JAMB Registrar, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, not say himself that JAMB was not set up originally to conduct admission examination, but to harmonize registration for university admissions in view of double or multiple registrations by candidates, which create admission crisis in the limited spaces in limited tertiary institutions in the country?

    A private university that spoke on the issue said any applicant who has the requisite five credits in secondary school leaving certificate examinations is admissible. That conforms to the above-stated explanation, and it is in order, because, anybody who truly passes secondary school leaving certificate examinations is due for the tertiary level. So, the decision should have been that UTME is no longer required, rather than saying the cutoff should be reduced from 180 to 120. The latter amounts to saying that 30 percent total score qualifies a candidate. That absurdity was what reasonable Nigerians were protesting, because whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. If UTME is considered to be unnecessary, it makes more sense to say that rather than saying pass mark is 30 percent. The requisite five credits in secondary school leaving certificate examinations are sufficient together with screening or test conducted by the admitting academic institutions. If harmonization by JAMB is still considered necessary, so be it, but not UTME or cutoff.

     

    • Prof Oyeniran Abioje,

    University of Ilorin.

  • More knocks for JAMB over cut-off marks

    More knocks for JAMB over cut-off marks

    Reactions have continued to trail the recent criteria announced by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for the admission of candidates into tertiary institutions for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Prof Is’haq Oloyede, Registrar of the board, had announced 120 marks in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as minimum for placements into universities.

    He made the announcement at the end of a recent policy meeting with heads of tertiary institutions across the country.

    Oloyede also said that 100 marks in the UTME was minimum score for candidates seeking placement into the country’s Polytechnics and Colleges of Education respectively.

    He announced 110 as minimum score for candidates seeking admission into the Innovative Enterprise Institutions (IEI).

    The criteria have continued to generate divergent views from various sectors of the society, with many saying it will have a negative effect on the education standard in the country.

    A former Education Minister, Prof. Nora Obaji, told NAN on Monday that the cut off marks were “unacceptable“.

    “This cut-off thing for the various sections of our institutions of higher learning, I will describe, as rather appalling.

    “It is not encouraging and I will dare say it is unacceptable.

    “I mean, what are we really looking out for in this country, quality or quantity?

    “If we, as a nation, are striving to improve on our developmental strides and be relevant among comity of nations, one thing we must learn to take seriously, then, should be our quality of education at all levels.

    “Take for instance, our Colleges of Education, a place that is supposed to train and produce future teachers that will teach at our primary education level that should be the bedrock or foundation of learning, admitting people with 25 per cent obtained from an entrance examination.

    “What quality are we anticipating to see from such teachers, and that is why I asked if what we need in this country is quantity rather than quality,” Obaji said.

    The ex-minister said for the country to move forward, it must insist on quality of students and graduates and be sure of their capabilities.

    She said that there was nowhere in the world where 25 per cent was being considered as pass mark, as was set as requisite minimum qualification mark for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education by JAMB.

    “I feel worried because it seemed the respective administrative heads of institutions present at that policy meeting could not say anything during such announcement to kick against the decision.

    “I expected them to know better and speak out when such decision was reached, especially as we are in the era of democracy.

    “Be that as it may, it is a good thing that individual institutions have been given the go ahead to conduct post-examination screening to select candidates of their choice.

    “I therefore want to implore administrators of these institutions to ensure that only candidates that are credible are admitted during the screening.

    “They should ease out those not qualified, irrespective of whose children they are, or where such children are coming from,” Obaji said.

    Another stakeholder, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana, a lecturer with National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), told NAN on telephone that the cut-off marks were ridiculous and would do the system no good.

    “I was not in that meeting and may not have all the facts on how they arrived at such grades.

    “Yes, it is true that the responsibility of admitting students rests solely with the universities and what I find not quite right is setting cut-off marks for university by JAMB.

    “I think it ought to be right if these institutions were given the opportunity to set what they deem fit as their cut-off marks.

    “All JAMB would have concerned itself with was to just announce results of the test it conducted,” he said.

    Mafiana said it was ridiculous for JAMB to have taken it upon itself to fix such cut-off marks.

    “They may have their reasons but one would have also expected that the various heads of administration of these institutions would have been courageous enough to say yes, even though government has set cut off marks, we will take our own decisions.

    “So, I expect universities to be courageous enough and come up with their respective take on how they intend doing their own selection without going below acceptable standards.

    “This is the time for universities to show how they intend to uphold the much needed quality assurance in our system,” Mafiana said.

    The National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), also said that such cut-off was not a good omen for the already troubled sector.

    According to the 2nd Deputy National President of the association, Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo, the sector has, in the recent past, been plagued by various challenges.

    He said these range from poor funding to examination malpractice, poor facilities and a host of others.

    “Going to peg cut-off marks at 120 for universities and 100 for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education will further bring down the quality of graduates that would be produced,’’ Ogunbanjo said.

    He said one would have ordinarily expected that the cut-off marks ought to have been pegged at a minimum of 160 for the universities and 150 for the polytechnics and Colleges of Education. (NAN)

  • JAMB defends low minimum cut-off marks

    JAMB defends low minimum cut-off marks

    •’Varsities free to admit candidates with higher scores’

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has defended the pegging of 120 as minimum cut-off marks for university admission.

    The decision, which was reached at a stakeholders’ policy meeting in Abuja, has generated controversy with many universities rejecting the marks.

    JAMB’s Head of Information Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement on Monday  in Abuja, said the board would not be deterred and would continue to support policies that would bring Nigeria’s education out of the woods.

    He explained that previous cut off marks were never strictly followed by most institutions.

    Dr. Benjamin said most universities failed to fill their admission quota in the last 10 years.

    The statement reads: “The much trending controversy over the just released cut off marks for 2017 admission exercise by stakeholders at the policy meeting is quite unnecessary.

    “All Heads of tertiary institutions were requested to submit their cut off benchmark to the board which will then be used for the admission. And these benchmarks once determined cannot be changed in the middle of admission exercise.

    “Again, it is necessary to explain that the 120 mark does not in any way suggest that once you have 120 then admission is sure for you. Institutions will admit from the top to the least mark.

    “We are now starting the actual monitoring of adherence to admissions guide lines, cut off marks inclusive. The cut off marks being branded by the public as previous cut off marks were never strictly followed by most institutions.

    “The board will equally ensure that it correct all anomalies existing, especially as regards the powers of institutions to make pronouncements on admissions and other related matters affecting the institutions.”

    According to him, institutions in the past went behind to admit candidates with less cut-off marks, while also accusing some institutions of admitting candidates without JAMB results.

    “Institutions were going behind to admit candidates with far less with others admitting candidates who never sat for JAMB. This act to say the least is very distasteful and damaging to our national data and identity.

    “Unfortunately, the public has been kept away from this fact for such a long time and now that we are saying it the way it is and working to address it, the public is criticising us using non existing parameters that were only announced and not followed.

    “In years past, admissions were done with worst cut off marks. We are determined and ready to correct all these with the 2017 exercise. The Board has designed a Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to check back door admission and other unwholesome practices associated with admission.

    “We are sure that the system will bring out the good in us as it will also make provision for candidates to track their admission. This empowers them to raise queries if a candidate they have better scores and other prerequisites are admitted which CAPS will not allow anyway.  This is the inclusiveness and transparency that education needs,” he added.

     

  • JAMB: Cut-off or cut down?

    SIR: Joint Admission and Matriculation Board- JAMB which was established by an act of 1978 and subsequently amended in 1989 and 1993 is charged with the responsibility of conducting and administering examinations into the country’s higher institutions of learning. It is no news that in the past 39 years of its operation, it has midwifed millions into universities, polytechnics, mono-technics and colleges of education across the country but what is recently making the news is the newly released cut down on the cut-off point for admission in 2017/2018 session.

    The development which has crashed the cut-off point for university from 180 announced last year to 120, also pegged polytechnics and enterprising institutions at 100 and 110 respectively.

    The policy has certainly begged for more questions than answers. What actually has gone awry between last year and now? What does the new regime seek to address?

    To me, whittling down of the criterion for admission this way does not show a positive sign of improvement in the education sector. In any form of examination where less than 50% is considered a pass mark, it is only a way of saying you have tried but not good enough to proceed further. Seeking higher education is a proof of having acquired sufficient training above ordinary level of studies and a further reduction in entrance requirement for such pursuit is not a way of encouraging hard-work and enterprising spirit among our young brains.

    Although JAMB says that institutions can use their discretion to raise their cut-off points above its recommendation but the underlying issue here, which is also quite disturbing, is the fact that, this has opened the way for  both intelligent and mediocre students to be at the  same pedestal struggling for admission. Also, it would be easier for the money bags to buy spaces for their children or wards.

    Also worrisome, is the restoration of the post-UTME which was banned last year to the admiration of ordinary Nigerians who accused some institutions of skyrocketing fees for such tests beyond their reach. Though the minister has put a caveat that such fees should not exceed N2,000, it does not mean that some institutions would not still  find away to extort money from desperate admission seekers.

    If one may ask again, what really informed this reduction? Has the quality of education or learning dropped? If not for anything else, the advent of internet and its accessibility has made researches and learning much easier and more effective. Now with internet, a student can browse a whole lot of information in almost all fields of studies in the comfort of his room without having to consult any library. Though the board was quoted as saying that this was done to reflect the global agitation in dynamic educational policy but one finds this postulation rather ridiculous since the policy has not addressed the avalanche of issues plaguing our education at that level. For instance, the current difficulty candidates face in gaining admission as it is reported that every year only about 15% of applicants are successful owing to factors such as limitation  in institutions’ carrying capacity, deficit in  basic facilities, paucity in public funding, curriculum related challenges and catchment area based admission. This oscillatory movement around cut-off point, year in year out is not helping the system.

    No examination should be conducted with a view to passing all the candidates. Therefore, JAMB should evolve a more pragmatic and forward looking method of assessment. As the minister of education admitted that the former policy which has just been rescinded was a mistake, let us hope that this one too is not going to be even a bigger mistake.

     

    • Itaobong Offiong Etim,

    Calabar.