By Omowumi Samuel, Abuja
The 2021 Policy Meeting on Admissions to higher Institutions in Nigeria has cancelled the traditional benchmark of National Cut-off marks and agreed that each institutions should set minimum bench mark for their admissions.
The stakeholders gave the approval in the 2021 policy meeting held on Tuesday at the Headquarters of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
The meeting resolved that the minimum benchmark proposed to JAMB must be adhered to.
At the meeting, Chaired by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and attended by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board JAMB, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed that every institution was 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 University190, Bayero University Kano, 180.
The JAMB Registrar hinted 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 health to our subjects, Jamb will now have 25 subjects that it test candidates on”
Oloyede noted that the 2020 admission could not be concluded on time due to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike.
The meeting also agreed that another meeting would hold in October 2021, to determine when admissions into both public and private institutions would end.
The stakeholders also agreed to exempt prison inmates, the visually impaired as well as foreign students from sitting for post UTME in any tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The Minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Sunday Echono, commended the partnership between the National Identity Management Commission, NIMC and JAMB, saying it birthed successfully, deployment of National Identification Number (NIM) for candidates’ registration.
“I am enthused that the last examination recorded the lowest cases of examination irregularities in the history of the board, because those who will normally have exploited the weak links through biometrics infractions had been effectively check mated within the introduction of NIN by JAMB”
Adamu disclosed that WAEC had decided to also use NIN to curb examination malpractices.
He reiterated that all tertiary institutions must make use of the biometrics and photograph of prospective candidate provided by JAMB, adding that it would guarantee authenticity of candidates identity.
The Minister further reiterated that consequence of admissions conductors outside of CAPs remained grevious “as it subjects candidates to nemesis of illegal admission.”
“I consider such act as direct affront on the system and appropriate sanctions shall be applied on those found involved in such distruptive act.”
The Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Education, Hon. Aminu Suleiman, said that issues addressed by JAMB were those being raised by members of the public.
He expressed satisfaction over the boards’ capacity to engage directly with institutions on the admission of candidates.
Adamu further stated that the collaboration between JAMB and institutions, to stamp out malpractice, was what the sector needed.
