JAMB is setting a policy meeting on June 24, 2023, with tertiary institutions to discuss the cut-off marks for admissions. This meeting aims to standardize admission processes, offering an in-depth analysis of application statistics, candidate performance, and setting new admission guidelines.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in an unprecedented move, is planning to set the bar for tertiary education entry requirements in Nigeria. Collaborating with various tertiary institutions, the board will determine the cut-off marks for the 2023 admission season on June 24, in a policy meeting.
Aiming for a Standardized Admission Process
Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, broke the news in the board’s weekly bulletin from Abuja. The upcoming meeting’s agenda will primarily focus on establishing an “acceptable minimum admissible score to be applied in all admissions to be undertaken by all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.”
Major Talking Points of the Policy Meeting
As per the bulletin, “During the meeting, stakeholders will discuss critical issues emanating from the just-concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), sale of Direct Entry (DE) application documents, in addition to setting the tone for the 2023/2024 admission exercise in tertiary institutions.”
Key Stakeholders in the Meeting
Chaired by the Minister of Education, the policy meeting will have representation from all heads of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, along with relevant regulatory bodies. The discussion will extend beyond the presentation of the Registrar of JAMB on the just concluded UTME, focusing on broader issues of national importance, particularly concerning the education sector.
Aims and Expectations of the Meeting
The policy meeting aims to set clear admission guidelines, present and analyse application statistics, evaluate candidates’ performance, and assess the overall 2023 admission exercise. It will set the minimum admissible score for all admissions across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
A New Approach to Cut-off Marks
In 2021, JAMB revolutionized admission processes by granting tertiary institutions the liberty to set their own minimum cut-off marks. However, the board retained the right to approve these cut-off marks. JAMB’s Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, made it clear that “Institutions have now been given the liberty to decide cut-off marks. There will be no cut-off from JAMB.”
With the upcoming meeting, stakeholders are eager to see how this evolving process will shape the future of tertiary admissions in Nigeria.