Federal government orders JAMB to abolish cut-off marks

– The federal government is considering abolishing blanket cut-off marks for admission

– The new policy may commence as early as next year

– This will come as a relief to many unsuccessful applicants into higher institutions

The minister of state for education, Professor Anthony Anwuka has ordered the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to consult with relevant stakeholders and come up with appropriate cut-off marks for admission for different courses in the tertiary institutions.

According to The Guardian, the plan to abolish blanket cut-off mark of 180 for admission is to stop the situation where some institutions have more candidates than they can admit while other institutions do not have enough.

The minister also directed that all admission slots not taken up be advertised so that candidates and parents could be aware, to enable them to take the slots.

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Anwuka made the comments at his meeting with JAMB and heads of the 21 other parastatals under the ministry of education yesterday, November 21 in Abuja.

According to the minister, the current situation lacks fairness, equity and logic. He stated that it does not make any sense subjecting candidates who are seeking admission into higher institutions the same cut-off marks when the duration and contents of their courses are different.

Responding, JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede told the minister that the notion generally being held that the carriage capacity of Nigerian universities is far below the number of candidates that qualify for admission is wrong.

According to Oloyede, the fact that 1.5 million candidates have sat for JAMB does not translate to 1.5 million qualifying for admission.

He also stated only those with the requisite 180 cut-off marks can be considered for admission, adding that even out of those who make 180, a significant number may not have five credits required for varsity admission.

Meanwhile, the government may also remove mathematics as admission requirement for those seeking to study courses such as law, English and French.

In a related development, JAMB has announced that it will adopt pin vending for the 2017 UTME test.

READ ALSO: 5 possible negative implications of JAMB’s 3 year result extension

Dr Fabian Benjamin, the head of media and information, speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday, November 2, in Lagos said the exam body would no longer use scratch cards, even as he urged intending candidates to get familiar with the new approach.

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