The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is a Nigerian entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions. The board conducts the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for prospective undergraduates into Nigerian universities. The board is also charged with the responsibility to administer similar examinations for applicants to Nigerian public and private monotechnics, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
The history of JAMB dates back to 1977 (JAMB bulletin). Every year, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board conducts an examination called UTME, the result of which will determine whether a student will be admitted to higher education (university, polytechnics, and college of education).
How has JAMB cut-off mark evolved (increased or decreased) over the years? What are the cut-off marks that have been used since 2008 to 2022? These are the questions we will address in this article with actual numbers. Recently, JAMB released the minimum cut-off marks for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
However, this development has stirred up controversy in some quarters of Nigerian society. Some Nigerians believe that the 140 cut-off mark set for university admission is ridiculous. Many have attributed this low standard to the decline we have seen in the Nigerian educational system. Undoubtedly, this will have a spillover effect on the labour market. Are graduates churned out of our higher institutions of learning competent? A good score on the JAMB exam can increase your chances of getting into the school and program of your choice. Additionally, a high score can also qualify you for scholarships and other opportunities.
Between 2007and 2023, these are the cut-off marks for universities; 2007/2008: (170), 2008/2017: (180), 2017/2018: (120), 2019/2021: (160), 2021/2023: (140). While the cut-off mark for polytechnics now is 100.
The new cut-off mark has implications for both institutions and students. For institutions, it is a strategy to make money. Post-UTME costs an average of 3500 naira, and less than 40% of those who sit for JAMB get to write post-UTME. 90% of candidates that sit for JAMB score at least 120, and most of those that score less than 180 cannot pass post-UTME. It’s all about the money. This is not to say that a loophole hasn’t been created for runs in higher institutions of learning.
For students, the new cut-off mark means that they can get into university with a lower score. This could lead to students taking their education less seriously, as they know that they can get into university with a lower score. It could also lead to students being less prepared for university, as they have not had to work as hard to get in.
Overall, the new cut-off mark is a controversial decision with both positive and negative effects. It is important to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a decision about whether or not to support the new cut-off mark.
Conclusively, education is important because it stretches the mind, exposes students to new topics, and pushes students to do better. As a result, students may find skills they didn’t even know they had. Students are given increasing amounts of responsibility with each year of education they complete. The continuous reduction in JAMB cut off point is ill speaking of Nigeria education system. And it shouldn’t continue thus, because the product of low brain admitted to our institutions has direct impact of the quality of our graduate and the picture this paints about our knowledge level. We’re not empty barrel. There should be standard and this standard should be maintain.
The down fall of our education is uncalled. Ideally, any candidate who’s below 200 in JAMB UTME should not be qualified for UTME. We call on Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of JAMB, to review this as a matter of urgency and the ministry of education should also implement policy in this direction because number of failures recorded in Nigeria institution today is alarm.
– Zakari Glory Ojima
Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi State.
