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Tag: Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board

  • Reps to probe JAMB cut-off mark

    Reps to probe JAMB cut-off mark

    The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to investigate the circumstances surrounding the reduction of JAMB cut-off mark for admitting candidates into tertiary institutions.

    This followed a motion by Rep Hassan Saleh (Benue-APC) on the “Need to Investigate the Reduction in the Cut-off Marks for Admissions into Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria’’ at plenary on Tuesday.

    The committee is expected to report back findings within four weeks, was directed to determine whether the cut-off mark reduction would lower the standard of education in the country.

    Moving the motion, Saleh expressed concern that the new policy was bound to lower the standard and quality of education from the tertiary institutions.

    According to him, many candidates who perform poorly in Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) can secure admission through nepotism, bribery and corruption while many other candidates who perform excellently can be denied admission.

    Saleh said that in spite of the fact that more than 500,000 candidates scored above 200 marks, representing 50 percent of the total mark, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) reduced cut-off mark to 120.

    He said that the cut-off mark represented only 30 percent of the total examination mark of 400, adding that 100 marks fixed for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education was 25 percent of the total mark.

    In his contribution, Rep Ahmed Pategi (Kwara-APC) disagreed with the motion, saying that the decision taken by JAMB was in order.

    Pategi said that all stakeholders in tertiary education were in agreement with JAMB on the new policy.

    He added that it was unfair to deny a child admission into higher institution simply on his/her UTME score even after eleven years of basic education and possession of five credits, including in English Language and Mathematics.

    Other lawmakers supported the motion and called for a reversal of the policy, saying universities were supposed to be centres of excellence for learning, hence the need to always admit the best candidates.

    According to them, it will be in order to produce graduates that can compete favourably with their peers anywhere in the World.

    Rep. Afe Oluwookere (Ondo-APC) described the new policy as “highly detrimental’’ to the country’s push for economic growth and development.

    On their parts, Reps. Henry Archibong, Rita Orji and Abubakar Chika called for the scraping of JAMB and the UTME.

    They stated that lowering cut-off marks for admission into tertiary institutions was a signal that the Board had outlived its usefulness.

    The lawmakers also accused JAMB of buckling under pressure from privately owned universities, many of whom were seeking to increase the number of yearly admissions into their schools.

    Rep. Abubakar Chika (Niger-APC), a former lecturer at the Polytechnic, said it was highly disappointing that JAMB could succumb to pressure from private institutions, which he alleged had long pushed for cut-off marks to be lowered.

    “Let me even open up, this decision was taken because of private universities. They usually need to admit the children of the rich, who are not ready to work hard,’’ he said.

    Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, announced that a minimum of 120 marks in the UTME would be required for placement of candidates into universities, while 100 marks were needed for placement into Polytechnics or Colleges of Education.

    The announcement followed the August 22 policy meeting between JAMB, heads of tertiary institutions and other stakeholders, on modalities for the conduct of admissions into tertiary institutions for the 2017/2018 academic session.

  • 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 to determine admission cut-off mark next week

    JAMB to determine admission cut-off mark next week

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), on Sunday announced that it would hold its Policy Committee meeting next week Monday and Tuesday to determine the cut-off point for the 2017 admission.
    The agency made the announcement in a statement on Sunday issued by its Head of Information, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in Abuja.
    ‎Dr. Benjamin said the meeting approved by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu  would kick start the 2017 admission exercise.
    According to him, the policy committee would announced the cut off point for  the 2017 admission exercise.
    “‎The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has obtained the approval of the Hon Minister of Education to hold the Policy Committee meeting on 2017 admission.
    “The meeting is scheduled to hold on Monday 21st to Tuesday 22nd August, 2017. This meeting will kick start the 2017 admission exercise. The policy committee would announced the cut off point for  the 2017 admission exercise.
    “All stakeholders including  Vice Chancellors of Universities, Rectors of Polytechnics and  Monotechnics  and  Provosts of Colleges of Education would be in attendance.”
    Benjami said the board has sent a soft copy of  printout of candidates to all institutions chosen by candidates.
    “This year the Board has sent candidates who scored 100 and above in their JAMB to the institutions in its flexible admission policy for institutions to determine the suitability of the candidates in compliance with all laid down rules and regulations as determined by the propriators of the institutions and approved by Senate of the various schools.
    “The Board will ensure that criterion set by Senate  are strictly adhere to by the institutions admission officers and no shifting of goal post in the middle of the admission exercise. This is to guarantee fairness and equity to all candidates,” the statement added.
    He also said the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, at the foundation laying ceremony for a 500 capacity twin CBT centre in Osogbo, Osun State advised all computer based test (CBT) centre owners to ensure that their centres are up to date as the board would not compromise on the 2018 accreditation exercise.
    He said having suitable centres was the bedrock of conducting a smooth examination.
    “The 500 capacity twin CBTcentre built by NCC in compliance with presidential directive for NCC to build such centre in each senatorial district is to bring the centres closer to the candidates and also ensure standard.
    “The Registrar urge the consultant to ensure that the centre is built according to specification,” the statement added.
  • UTME: JAMB withholds 300 results over malpractices

    UTME: JAMB withholds 300 results over malpractices

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has so far withheld the results of 300 candidates who wrote the unified tertiary matriculation examination (UTME), its Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede has said.

    Oloyede said this on Thursday when he featured on Sunrise Daily, a weekly programme on Channels Television in Abuja.

    He also said the agency has released the results of 15, 000 candidates, adding that the board has released the results of candidates where it had no problem.

    According to him, the board would release results of candidates after it had ensured that they did not participate in malpractices.

    Oloyede also said the board would not hesitate to sanction anybody found wanting no matter how highly placed the person is.

    “For instance this  morning (Thursday) we have released about 15, 000 results but among those who sat in that centre we have real reasons, concrete evidence to say about 300 of them the results will not be release because they knew they were not in the hall where the examination took place.

    “Those who do not receive are qualified not to receive. In all the places where there are no problem we have released the results within 24 hours. But those who have not they may not be culpable but we are investigating.

    “Where we have reasons to doubt anything, where we have report of anything that was not acceptable to us we have withheld the results and we keep on releasing them as we clear them.

    “We are comparing those who sat for the examination, how long they sat in the hall and when some of them will take excuse that they are going to the toilet only to go to what they call VIP, all these have been able to track and I want to say that we will not hesitate to sanction anybody no matter how highly placed,” he said.

    Oloyede also said the board would not impose any candidate on any institutions in the country.

    According to him, the board will not take any candidate that has not been recommended by the institution.

    “The final say for admission rest squarely with the institutions. Their senates and academic boards are empowered to determine the students. What JAMB does is and what it should continue to do is to moderate, to ensure equity, to ensure that nobody is unfairly treated.

    “JAMB should not and will not take any student that has not been recommended by the institution. JAMB was not established to take up the responsibility or to usurp the power of the senate. What JAMB should do is to moderate, take recommendation and ask questions.

    “JAMB will give the admission letter but the process of giving the letter must be democratic enough, must not encroach on the powers of the senate and the academic boards of the various institutions.

    “We will advise our colleagues who are manning these institutions to be fair and to play according to the rule but we will not impose anything on the institutions,” he said.

    He also said that fraudsters who meet the requirements of the organization are establishing computer based test centers just to defraud candidates.

    “We now have situation that crooks, people who have no standards are now establishing CBT centres and they are meeting our requirements only to misuse the opportunity.

    “We have seen so many of such that we want to call on credible Nigerians, credible institutions, and government agencies. If we can partner with some federal government or state or public institutions to expand their facilities I will be more comfortable.

    “We have seen supposedly highly placed individuals who own CBT centres and are using the CBT centres to perpetrate examination malpractices,” he added.

     

  • JAMB candidates protest at Lagos Assembly

    JAMB candidates protest at Lagos Assembly

    Scores of candidates of the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), who stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly Tuesday to protest alleged maltreatment by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the examination, threw stones at the security gate and personnel manning the gate in the Assembly to ventilate their anger after waiting for hours without being attended to by the lawmakers.

    Some of the students, who were angered by the failure of the speaker or any lawmaker in the Assembly to attend to them in time were molested and arrested by members of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), who had been mobilised to prevent them from entering the Assembly premises.

    The students sang solidarity songs to register their anger with the authority of JAMB and the Assembly.

    The over 200 candidates, who wrote this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation  Examination called for the removal of  Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, Director of Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) over the alleged mismanagement of UTME examination during the protest to the Assembly.

    One of the affected candidates, Okelola Samson said that he read rigorously for the examination, but that JAMB gave him 170 marks which was against his expectation.

    According to him, for the past two weeks, JAMB has been sending results that was not in tandem with our expectations. We expected good result but we were disappointed at the management with the series of marks they were sending to our phones.

    “I am sure 170 was not my score and I am using this opportunity to call on the House of Assembly and the Federal Government to investigate this hiccup with JAMB,” he pleaded.

    It was gathered that other protesting candidates shouted at the frontage of the Assembly that Prof. Dibu must leave as the Director of JAMB.

    Another candidate, Adebisi Shonupe also shared his experience, and said that all the efforts put into the exam proved abortive with the action of JAMB.

    “Dibu is marking down candidates to pave way for private universities and also deduct the scores of the candidates at his own discretion. We also received some of our results before we write the exam,” the candidates said.

    According to them, JAMB changed exam venues without proper notification and over 10,000 candidates missed the UTME exam. He is also selling change of institution and change of course e-card, while the exam was still in progress.

    The inscription on the placards included: “My system went off and nothing was done. Kilode! You all have children.”

    The Director of Next Level Academy, Abayomi Arowolo, who was an instructor to the candidates, said what JAMB did was injustice.

    “After the candidates finished the examinations, JAMB added 40 marks to their scores and later removed it from the candidates’ scores. Some of the candidates are still writing the exam, so the Commission should be called to order.”

    The House of Assembly had not attended to the students as the time of filling this story.