The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has scheduled Friday, July 18, 2024, for its Policy Meeting on Admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions. This meeting will determine the minimum cut-off marks for the 2024/2025 academic session. Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, will preside over the meeting.
According to Fabian Benjamin, spokesperson for JAMB, the Policy Meeting plays an important role as it establishes the framework for each year’s admission process. This includes setting admission guidelines based on application numbers, evaluating candidate performance, and determining minimum admission standards across all institutions.
Key stakeholders expected at the meeting include heads of regulatory agencies such as the National University Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and the National Council for Colleges of Education (NCCE). Also in attendance will be heads of tertiary institutions nationwide and representatives from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others.
Benjamin highlighted that the Registrar will present reports on the recently concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the ongoing Direct Entry (DE) applications. This will include an analysis of performance indicators that could influence government policies on admissions.
He added, “The meeting will also address issues from the previous year’s admission exercise and evaluate candidates’ performance in the current UTME to determine the minimum score for the year.”
In the previous year, stakeholders agreed on the minimum admission requirements for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. The upcoming meeting will reaffirm these requirements while initiating the admission process for the new academic year. It will also discuss unresolved issues from the previous year and assess stakeholders’ compliance with existing guidelines, suggesting amendments where necessary.
The Policy Meeting serves as a crucial platform for stakeholders to shape the direction of higher education admissions in Nigeria, ensuring transparency and fairness in the process.