TERTIARY institutions in the country have henceforth been given the mandate to set the minimum bench mark for their admissions, stakeholders agreed at the 2021 Policy Meeting on Admissions to higher Institutions in Nigeria on Tuesday, where they cancelled the traditional benchmark of national cut-off marks.
The 2021 policy meeting held at the Headquarters of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Bwari, Abuja where it resolved that institutions must adhere to their minimum benchmark which would be made available to JAMB.
At the meeting chaired by Arch. Sunday Echono, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education on behalf of the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed that every institution is to determine and propose its cut off mark to the board.
According to Prof Oloyede, specific universities such as University of Maiduguri proposed 150, Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto proposed 140, Pan Atlantic University – 210, University of Lagos – 200, Lagos State University – 190, Covenant University – 190, Bayero University Kano – 180.
Oloyede revealed that JAMB has included Computer Studies and Physical and Health Studies to its Test subjects for 2022 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations. “We are adding Computer Studies and Physical and Health to our subjects. JAMB will now have 25 subjects that it tests candidates on,” he said noting that the 2020 admission could not be concluded on time due to ASUU strike.
The stakeholders also agreed to hold another meeting in October 2021 to determine when admissions into both public and private institutions will end and consider whether to exempt prison inmates, the visually impaired as well as foreign students from sitting for post UTME.
The minister commended the partnership between the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and JAMB stating that it ensured the successful deployment of National Identification Number for the registration of candidates.
“I am enthused that the last examination recorded the lowest cases of examination irregularities in the history of the board because those who would normally have exploited the weak links through biometrics infractions had been effectively checkmated with the introduction of NIN by JAMB,” he said, adding that following the success, the West African Examination Council (WAEC) has decided to also use NIN to curb examination malpractices.
While stating that the collaboration between JAMB and institutions to stamp out malpractice was what the sector needed, the minister called on all tertiary institutions to make use of the biometrics and photograph of prospective candidates that have been provided to them by JAMB as they will guarantee authenticity of candidates’ identity.
Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education, Hon Aminu Suleiman, said that issues addressed by JAMB were issues being raised by members of the public. He expressed satisfaction over the board’s capacity to engage directly with institutions on the admission of candidates.
