JAMB, Stakeholders Fix 160 As Minimum Score For University Admission
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) and the stakeholders meet on Thursday and jointly approved 160 as minimum score for admission seekers into public universities in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 19th policy meeting on admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria at Bola Babalakin auditorium, Gbongan, Osun state, on Tuesday, the Chairman University of Lagos Governing Council, Dr Wale Babalakin SAN expressed confidence in the quality of candidates Joint Admission and Matriculation Board JAMB is presenting for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
He noted that JAMB candidates merit their scores as JAMB has blocked all short-cut through which candidates secures unmerited scores in the past.
He expressed his determination to continue to release his auditorium freely to JAMB for the meeting adding that the auditorium was built for, “serious intellectual discussion.
The meeting that also approved 140 marks for private universities on admissions has Vice Chancellors, Rectors of Polytechnics and provost of colleges of education as participants.
The meeting also approved 120 for public polytechnic and 110 for private polytechnic. Also, 100 and above was approved for colleges of education.
Also speaking, the JAMB Registrar Professor Issaq Oloyede disclosed that plans have been concluded to begin open examination for students seeking admissions into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
According to the JAMB Registrar, the step, which is a new innovation for 2019 Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examination, UTME, was part of efforts to further curb examination malpractice.
He explained that the board is determined to provide one million questions for each subjects out of which 50 would be taken for the examination.
The JAMB boss who noted that it has become a crime to collect password of candidates at CBT centre, adding that the innovation of remote network test will afford the body opportunity to monitor functioning computer without going to the universities.
He expressed worry over the rate of applicants for Medicine, saying 436,799 candidates have applied for the course, while 35,923 vacancies are available.
Earlier, the Chairman, governing board of JAMB, Dr. Emmanuel Nndukwe, said the board is striving to provide a unique standard that will be acceptable by students and parents.
He commended the JAMB Registrar for his commitment and truthfulness, saying that his “transparency, accountability and dedication is legendary.
The Director of Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Ojo Joel Samuel, who spoke on behalf of the permanent secretary of the ministry, enjoined the board to be sensitive, transparent and sincere in the consideration of students cut-off mark.
“Accountability and transparency have made it possible for JAMB to directly and indirectly support other Institutions and agencies in the education sector. It is gladdening that NECO has taken a cue with its unprecedented remittance of over a billion naira recently. The Board should go further by ensuring the prosecution of all culprits and suspects of these nefarious and criminal activities in order to serve as a deterrent to those planning for future exercise, and to also send a very strong and clear signal to those that have entrenched themselves in these acts of criminality.
“It is disheartening that there are still many reports of unethical behaviors on our campuses, especially those relating to the abuse of trust and confidence reposed in staff of Tertiary Institutions.
“The Federal Ministry of Education recently instituted a task-force to monitor how institutions deal with reported cases of abuse and to follow up on the implementation of the actions that are meant to address cases of unethical behaviors .
“The Taskforce is empowered to recommend appropriate sanctions against any persons or institutions that fail to protect victims of unethical behaviors or condone such mis-behaviour. Heads of Institutions are to set up an Ombudsman system where all cases of unethical behaviors can be reported, with adequate protection for the victims.
“No Institution should charge above the Ministerial approved fee of Not More Than Two Thousand Naira (N2,000) for any form of Post-UTME screening exercise.
“The Board and the Tertiary Institutions should ensure that candidates under the Special Needs category are considered for admission provided they meet the minimum requirements.’’
“Blind and deaf candidates, prison candidates
foreign centre candidates, these candidates should be exempted from any other test apart from routine scrutiny of their credentials.
Osun state Governor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the Deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi, urged the board to sustain their standard in ensuring that qualified candidates are given admission in line with the guidelines and procedures.
He advised the board to give adequate consideration to the people living with disabilities and also strive to further flush out the bad eggs among the board.
