The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has set 140 and above as cut-off mark for 2022/2023 admissions into universities across the country.
Registrar of the board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, disclosed this during a presentation at the 2023 Policy Meeting on Admissions to tertiary institutions and awards in Abuja on Saturday.
Oloyede said 100 had been approved as cut off mark into Polytechnics and Colleges of Education. ExamLabs
He explained that the aforementioned points were the minimum, but that did not mean institutions must comply with them.
Oloyede, therefore, clarified that the onus lied on institutions to determine the National Minimum Tolerable UTME score, often called the ‘Cut-off marks’.
The registrar also disclosed that an agreement had been reached for institutions to charge N2,000 as Post UTME fee and exempt candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions from Diaspora, inmates and People Living with Disabilities would be exempted from Post UTME .
Earlier, Oloyede noted that 557,626 candidates from 1.8 million applications were admitted into tertiary institutions in 2022.
He said the 2022 admission process was still ongoing due to opportunities given to some key players in the sector.
The registrar, who discredited notions from the public domain that admissions were given by JAMB, said admission depended on the availability of candidates’ five o’level requirements as UTME was only meant for ranking.
Speaking on gaps in admission vacancies and why candidates were not admitted, Oloyede said rigidity of programme choice and mismatch of demand and supply were responsible.
He also listed lack of interest for existing vacancies and trail-candidates (No o’level results or awaiting results) as responsible for admission gaps in the tertiary institutions.
Speaking, the Pamenent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education, David Adejo said the criteria for admissions remain as approved and circulated by JAMB.
He said all institutions must therefore adhere strictly to them and all other criteria prescribed by the regulatory bodies, such as NUC, NBTE and NCCE as well as other professional regulatory bodies, with specific reference to approved quota, ratio and other specifications meant for improved quality, accountability and equity.
“We must remember that the first law in heaven is order and violating laid-down criteria and procedures is tantamount to creating anarchy. This won’t be condoned by the Ministry,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary said the admission process to tertiary institutions is a critical cornerstone of education system in Nigeria.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that this process is credible, fair, transparent and inclusive. Let us strive for excellence, embrace diversity and work together to engender robust admission processes for the benefits of the candidates and the overall interest of our dear nation,” he said.
