According to the board, decisions will be reached on new cut-off marks and other admission issues at the meeting which will be chaired by Education Minister Adamu Adamu.

Last year, JAMB, in collaboration with vice chancellors of universities, Rectors of polytechnics and Provosts of colleges of education, pegged the minimum cut-off marks at 160 and above for admission into universities, 120 for polytechnics and 100 for colleges of education.

JAMB in its weekly bulletin released Sunday in Abuja by its Head of Media, Dr. Fabian Benjamin “This (policy) meeting kick-starts the admission process into the nation’s tertiary institutions. It will discuss critical issues emanating from the presentation of the Registrar of the JAMB on the just-concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry applications, in addition to setting the tone for the 2021/2022 admission exercise.

“The meeting is expected to chart policy directions for the nation’s tertiary institutions, set admission guidelines and present application statistics, candidates’ performance as well as evaluate the 2020 admission exercise.

“The meeting, in addition to other deliberations, would take a stand on acceptable minimum admission standards to be applied in all admissions to be undertaken by all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“Given the critical nature of the decisions to be taken at the meeting, it would be streamed live on the board’s website, www.jamb.gov.ng, on its Facebook handle @JAMBULLETIN and other social media platforms.

“The board makes it clear that it is an abuse of process for any institution to commence any admission exercise before this meeting as it is this forum that gives this authorisation.”

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Data released last week by spokesperson of Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Dr. Fabian Benjamin, gave the impression that most private universities had already settled for 120 as their minimum cut-off mark before the board and other stakeholders involved in tertiary education across the country decided to toe the same line.

It was also alleged that very poor student enrolment experienced by these privately-owned institutions, played a vital role in the infamous decision, which has drawn the ire of many. But the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Registrars of Private Universities (CVCRPU), is insisting that, “Private universities had no hand at all in what JAMB did.”

Shortly after JAMB announced the decision, founder of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola (SAN), slammed the Federal Government for taking such a step, describing the reduction as violence to the country’s university system, and a major setback to quality education.

In a statement to that effect, Babalola expressed worries that the decision was taken without due consideration for several factors, including its implication on the quality of tertiary education.

“What is the whole essence of reducing cut-off marks for admission to as low as 120 for universities and 100 for polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education? Will such an action enhance or reduce the quality of education?

“Will it give international recognition to the degrees awarded by the Nigerian universities, which in any case, are already being questioned? Is the reduction a deliberate ploy to make things worse?” Babalola queried.

In absolving private varsities of complicity, chair of CVCRPU and Vice Chancellor, Redeemer’s University (RUN), Professor Debo Adeyewa said, “As Chairman of vice chancellors of private universities, I can say categorically that we had no hand, directly or indirectly. JAMB only acted in the interest of university autonomy and the country.

“After all, public universities also went below 180. We at RUN maintained our status quo and sent in 180 to JAMB, but unfortunately that was not reflected. I think JAMB assembled the initial figures sent to the board before the policy meeting.

“After the meeting it was now agreed that universities should go back and review their cut-off marks … JAMB was also aware that some of the highly regarded universities abroad take these candidates with low scores in JAMB, and even come to recruit them here and they still do well.

“Now, they are accusing private universities of lowering standards. It’s quite unfortunate, and who do we blame in all of this? The Federal Government is to be blamed. To me it is like you are selling some goods and you say item A is N100, while item B will cost N1000, and so on. You determine the prize of the goods without allowing market forces to come in, so you have given the impression that this is the cost of the material.”

While questioning why some parents feel comfortable sending their children and wards to private schools at the primary and secondary levels, where charges are quite high, only to complain that private universities charge high fee, Adeyewa said this development may have forced some private universities to lower their standards (accept low cut-off mark) in order to have enough to pay staff salaries and other expenditures.

“Realistically, every university in the country should begin to get government support. One of the arguments in the said report was that there is poor quality in private universities, and I’m not happy about that because everyone knows that not all federal universities are of good standard, same with state and private. So, what is the argument about? He asked.

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The minimum cut off marks for admissions into universities in Nigeria was set for 120, polytechnics and colleges of education pegged at 100, while that of innovative enterprising institutes was pegged at 110.

Institutions are, however, at liberty to raise their cut off marks for admission above the minimum set by JAMB.

Also, admissions into public degree awarding institutions for the 2017 UTME examination will end on January 15, 2018 while for private institutions, it ends on January 31, 2018.

Also, decisions on first choice candidates by universities will end on October 15, and second choice candidates will end on December 15; after which the remaining students will be available in the market place for other institutions till the January closing dates.

These decisions were taken at the 2017 Combined Policy Meetings on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria which ended on Tuesday.

The Registrar of JAMB, Ishaq Oloyede, said a Central Admission Processing System, CAPS, will be used to streamline admission processes among institutions, as it addresses challenges associated with the former approach.

Oloyede also said that Institutions could conduct dual mode system which involves both manual and the newly introduced CAPS.

He advocated a dynamic educational policy as related to admissions.
“All over the world, there is agitation for dynamic educational policy,” he said. “JAMB only admits for National Diploma, not Higher National Diploma; so why should we use the same requirement for ND and BSC, that is unreasonable parity.”

“We should not be sentimental in fixing our cut off mark; we need not over-dramatise issue of cut off mark.”

He said candidates’ applications to study agriculture was very low while applications to study medicine and health sciences increased.

Speaking on illegal admissions, he said the process is now automated because the Registrar of JAMB must approve all candidates.

“About 17,160 students were admitted without JAMB across institutions in Nigeria,” he said.

The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, also formerly announced a lift of the ban on the conduct of Post-UTME examination as a prerequisite for admission into tertiary institutions. “Cancellation of Post- UTME is a mistake,” he said.

He noted that banning of post-UTME led to a lot of irregularities by candidates and some institutions.

The minister explained that with the lifting of the ban on the conduct of the examination, institutions are now at liberty to conduct, while adding that fee for the examination should not exceed N2000.

He explained that the 2016 admission process was a huge success, while expressing optimism that government is working assiduously to make that of 2017 better.

Adamu noted that government is also making efforts to expand access and ensure equality in the education sector.

He expressed optimism that a substantial number of candidates who sat for the 2017 UTME would gain admission into tertiary institution.

“Over 1.6 million candidates applied for degree courses, over 17,000 for ND as well as NCE,” he said.

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The Head, Media and Information, JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the clarification in a statement on Tuesday, said that the policy committee meeting responsible for the determination of cut-off marks had not met.

According to him, it is in the best interest of candidates and other critical stakeholders to jettison cut-off marks for the various courses that are currently being paraded.

”We want to appeal to all candidates to jettison such speculations and engage themselves in more meaningful ventures that would add value to their future,’’ he said.

Benjamin said results of the just concluded 2017 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) had since been released, with a few others still being previewed.

”We want to appeal to Nigerians to understand that such candidates whose results are being previewed may not necessarily have participated in any malpractice.

“But rather, centres where they sat for the examination had issues during the conduct of examination.

”These issues were reflected on the CCTV footage and this suggests why they must be carefully investigated before releasing such results,” he said.

According to him, a very disturbing and unfortunate case is that of a school in Abia where cables were seen to have been connected secretly to a distant hall for hired mercenaries to write for candidates.

“This is very unfortunate given the fact that the school is a missionary school and supposed to be a leading light against such vices.

“But, rather, it was conniving, supporting and indeed championing the evil course of examination malpractice,’’ Benjamin said in the statement.

He said such results would be treated in accordance with the provision of the law.

According to him, a task force has been inaugurated by the Registrar of the board, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, to look into all such issues and has since concluded the review of the CCTV footages and other evidences presented.

He said that the task force would forward its reports to the appropriate quarters for the scrutiny and onward release of all remaining results.

“We urge candidates to note that no result will be withheld without a cogent reason as this explains why we are taking time to ensure that those who are innocent are exonerated.

“Again, candidates are advised not to patronise any centre, office or shop for any service; please visit our offices in all the 36 states of the Federation and FCT for any complaint, enquiry or assistance.

“This is also because our attention has also been drawn to an illegal centre being operated near our Ikoyi Office in Lagos with the aim of defrauding innocent candidates.

“This centre collects all kinds of fees in cash for services that are even free. The general public should note that payments for any of our services are done via our TSA account with CBN and not cash.

“Anybody or group of persons requesting for cash from you is not from us,’’ the statement read.

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