The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has opposed the new admission cut-off marks approved by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), describing them as a threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
Reacting in an interview, the president of the Union, Comrade Shammah S. Kpanja
said, “Honestly speaking, the fixing of the JAMB examination cut-off points to 150 for universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education is counterproductive.
“As you know, JAMB’s total score is 400. By this standard, a candidate only needs 37.5% to gain admission into a university and just 25% to enter a polytechnic or college of education. This, no doubt, will contribute greatly to the lowering of academic standards.”
ASUP argued that admission policies should be aimed at raising the bar, not lowering it, particularly in a global context where quality education and competitiveness are key drivers of national development.
The Union, however, applauded the Federal Government’s decision to peg the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions at 16 years, describing it as a step in the right direction.
“The decision to peg the minimum admission age at 16 years is quite commendable. Our Union had earlier kicked against the proposal by the immediate past Minister of Education to increase it to 18 years. This current position reflects a balance between maturity and academic preparedness.”
While calling for a review of the new cut-off policy, ASUP urged policymakers and stakeholders in the education sector to prioritize long-term quality over short-term access, warning that easy admission standards could backfire and further diminish public confidence in tertiary education in the country.
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