JAMB Sets Cut-Off Marks For 2023 Admissions
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and tertiary education stakeholders have reached a consensus on the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Score (NTMUS), commonly known as the cut-off mark, for admission into Nigerian universities in 2023.
Decision on Cut-Off Marks during the 2023 Annual Policy Meeting
During the 2023 annual policy meeting on admissions into tertiary institutions, held in Abuja on Saturday, the participating stakeholders determined the cut-off marks for admission. Chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Andrew Adejoh, the meeting considered recommendations from institution heads to establish the benchmarks.
Flexibility and Individual Institution Standards
JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, emphasized that the minimum benchmark does not apply uniformly to all institutions. While the meeting determines the minimum point, institutions retain the autonomy to set their individual minimum points higher than the agreed benchmark. Mr. Oloyede stated, “Anything we decide here will become the minimum. What it means is that nobody can go below it.”
Implications for Private Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education
As a result of the approved cut-off marks, around fifteen private universities that initially selected 120 and 130 as their minimum points will need to increase them to at least 140. Additionally, all polytechnics and colleges of education are mandated not to admit students with scores below 100.
The Process of Setting Cut-Off Points for Admission
Each tertiary institution submits its preferred minimum points to JAMB prior to the policy meeting. These desired minimum points vary among universities, ranging from as high as 200 to as low as 100 or 120 UTME points. During the policy meeting, university vice-chancellors, polytechnic rectors, and college of education provosts engage in discussions to determine a consensus on the minimum benchmark for admission. The agreed-upon minimum benchmark is then adopted.