GOOD NEWS! JAMB to reduce 180 cut-off mark, introduce new flexible one

– It appears JAMB may reduce the 180 cut-off mark for admission to tertiary institutions

– The JAMB registrar said some institutions were finding it hard to implement the cut-off mark

– However, he noted that the new flexible cut-off will only be applicable to institutions that have exhausted the list of candidates that scored the 180 cut-off mark

The 180 cut-off mark for admission to tertiary institutions may be reduced by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Speaking during the 2nd technical committee meeting for 2016 admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria, the registrar and chief executive of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said it became imperative to reduce the cut-off mark due to the inability of some of the institutions to implement the cut-off mark.

He said the decision of 180 as the 2016 national cut-off mark was reached in a meeting of the board of higher institutions and other stakeholders, The Nation reports.

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Oloyede explained that many institutions which were part of the decision have expressed concern on their inability to effect the cut-off mark.

“A large number of institutions, particularly the budding ones, have applied for a waiver to enable them admit candidates who in some instances scored below 180 marks.  For some, this may sound unreasonable with the largely false impression that a large percentage of those who score above 180 and are qualified for admission cannot find any placement in our institutions.

“I think this cry needs attention, otherwise, some of these institutions whether public or privately-owned may soon begin to wobble or even close shops.  This will be counter-productive and even defeat the government olicy of expansion of access to higher education   and manpower development,” he said.

The JAMB registrar said the board has collated the requests from the various Senates and Academic Boards and have directed the pleas to appropriate authorities.

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He said: “Just this morning we received a green light on flexible cut-off mark only for institutions which have exhausted the list of candidates with 180 and above, subject of course to a minimum acceptable to JAMB and meeting of other pre-requisite.”

Oloyede noted that the board would not impose candidates on any institution and no applicant will be unjustifiably denied the opportunity of access to tertiary institutions.

Recall that three weeks ago, JAMB had said that it may cancel the use of general cut-off marks for candidates of the Universities Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The spokesperson of JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said there was an urgent need to reconsider the current cut-off point of 180 for admission in order to strengthen access to education, particularly for the less-privileged.

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