JAMB: Uniform cut-off marks don’t make sense

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said uniform cut-off marks doesn’t create a level playing field for Nigerian institutions.

JAMB has called for a national debate to discuss the need for uniform cut-off marks or otherwise, when admitting candidates that took the Universities Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Fabian Benjamin, JAMB spokesperson, noted this in a statement issued on behalf of Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB registrar.

He noted that it was far from ideal for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to be subjected to the same cut-off marks.

Benjamin said institutions should be given the liberty to choose their own cut-off marks.

“The uniformity of cut-off marks doesn’t make any sense when colleges (of education) and polytechnics admit for national certificate of education and diplomas, while universities admit for degrees.

“Yet, we subject them to the same cut-off marks, thereby starving these tiers of institutions from admitting candidates who, if not engaged, may likely become easy prey to social vices.

“This means that if a University wants 250 as minimum cut-off marks, why not? And if another wants less so be it. If a Polytechnic like YABATECH (Yaba College of Technology) wants 250 as cut-off marks, let them admit and if Gboko Polytechnic in Benue State where I come from wants less than 200, let them admit.

“Institutions should be known for their individual quality and not collective standards. This will foster positive competition for the overall good of our tertiary institutions. It is critical for all notable stakeholders to rethink the issue of cut-off marks.

“I am calling for a national debate on the propriety of cut off marks; institutions should be allowed to determine the kind of candidates they want.”