Today, being 18th July 2024, in Abuja, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced that the minimum cut-off mark for university admission will be 140. This decision was made public at the 2024 Policy Meeting of JAMB by the board’s registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.
In addition to the university cut-off mark, JAMB has also set the minimum cut-off point for polytechnics and colleges of education at 100. This announcement was made in the presence of the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, as well as vice-chancellors, rectors, registrars of higher institutions, and other stakeholders.
During the meeting, Minister Mamman issued a directive that candidates under the age of 18 should not be admitted to tertiary institutions. This directive sparked mixed reactions among the attendees, including vice-chancellors, rectors, and registrars. The minister expressed concerns about parents pressuring their underage children to seek admission into higher education institutions.
Minister Mamman emphasized that his stance is supported by Nigerian law, which governs admissions into tertiary institutions. He stated that this legal framework should suffice for admission bodies without requiring additional statements from him.
Furthermore, Professor Mamman highlighted the Ministry of Education’s efforts to incorporate skills training into the curriculum starting from primary school, aiming to provide opportunities for those who may not gain admission into tertiary institutions.
