The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced new cut-off marks for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. For universities, the minimum cut-off mark is now set at 140, while polytechnics and colleges of education have a lower cut-off mark of 100.
This decision was disclosed by JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, during the 2024 Policy Meeting held in Abuja.
In addition to the new cut-off marks, the Federal Government has directed JAMB to enforce a minimum entry age of 18 years for candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions.
This directive was reiterated by the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, during the meeting, which was attended by key stakeholders, including vice-chancellors, rectors, and registrars of higher institutions.
The decision to enforce the 18-year minimum entry age aligns with the 6-3-3-4 system of education in Nigeria, which stipulates that students should spend six years in primary school, three years in junior secondary school, and three years in senior secondary school before proceeding to tertiary institutions.
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This system implies that students should typically be 18 years old upon completing their secondary education.
Despite mixed reactions from educational leaders present at the meeting, Minister Mamman emphasized that the age requirement is grounded in Nigerian law and should not necessitate further statements from the ministry.
He highlighted the importance of adhering to the educational framework and laws already in place to ensure students are adequately prepared for higher education.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education is also focusing on providing skills education to pupils from primary school, addressing the needs of those who may not gain admission into tertiary institutions.
This policy change aims to ensure that candidates entering higher education possess the necessary maturity and preparedness to succeed academically and socially.
