Abuja – Mixed reactions have trailed the 2016 admission cut-off mark set at 180 for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the minimum cut-off mark for tertiary institutions in the country was agreed at 2016 Policy Meeting of JAMB on Thursday in Abuja.
Nigerians have been commenting on the development in separate interviews with NAN in Abuja on Friday, since it was made public.
An Educator, Mr Goddy Igwe , said that the new benchmark was commendable as it cut across all tertiary institutions.
“At least, it will address the perception that universities are superior to polytechnics and colleges of education.
“If a student that applied to a polytechnic knows that same cut-off mark applies to him and the other student who applied to a university, he will not feel less intelligent,’’ Igwe said.
He urged policy makers to remove all existing dichotomies between certificates awarded by universities and those awarded by polytechnics.
However, a parent, Mr Ojo Steve, said that the new policy would endanger enrolment into polytechnics and colleges of education.
According to him, many students who go to polytechnics and colleges of education are those who cannot secure university admission.
“Many students prefer to attend universities; what this means is that more than 70 per cent of candidates that write UTME will be seeking admission into universities once they score up to 180.
“If you check the UTME scores of many students that apply to polytechnics and colleges of education, many are below 180; now that 180 is the benchmark, there will be a lot of pressure on universities,’’ Ojo said.
In his reaction, Mr Ike Onyechere, the Chairman, Exam Ethics Marshals International, said that candidates who scored higher in UTME, might be disadvantaged, judging from JAMB’s admission criteria.
“JAMB admissions are allocated based on 45 per cent merit, 35 per cent catchment area/locality and 20 per cent educationally less developed state (ELDS).
“In other words, candidates from ELDS states have 20 per cent better chance of getting admitted than candidates from Educationally More Developed States, even when they live in the same state and take the exam at the same centre. ‘’
NAN recalls that the 2015 JAMB cut-off for universities was 180 and 150 for polytechnics and colleges of education.(NAN)
