Date: 2016-10-24

The Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede has called for a national debate on the propriety of cut off marks saying institutions should be allowed to determine the kind of candidates they wanted. A statement by the board's Head, Media and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin made the disclosure yesterday in Lagos adding that such change would be possible with the ongoing reforms in the establishment.

The statement said that the uniformity of cut of marks did not in any way make sense when Colleges and Polytechnics admit for NCE and Diplomas. It said the universities on the other hand, admitted for degrees and yet all candidates were subjected to the same cut off marks.

The statement expressed worries over class opportunities as it affected the distribution of admission resources, noting that the rich had multiple opportunities including going abroad for studies. It said the poor only had the opportunity of struggling for the scarce access within the country.

The statement said children of the rich also participated in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and if they do not get the required cut-off marks, they proceeded abroad to further their studies.

It said their less privileged counterparts who could not afford such luxury stay behind still trying to get access that might never come.

"Let institutions admit what they want according to their needs. This means that if a university wants 250 as minimum cut off marks, why not let it be and if another want less, then so be it.

"If a polytechnic like Yaba College of Technology in Lagos wants 250 students let it admit and if Gboko Polytechnic in Benue wants less than 200 let it be.

"Institutions should be known for their individual quality and not collective standard. This will foster positive competition for the overall good of our tertiary institutions," the statement said.

The statement urged Nigerians to critically reflect on the development for the board to take action that would be for the good of the country's education as well as the future of the Nigerian child.