JAMB reduces cutoff mark to 180 for Universities and 160 for Poly

They are as follows:

Universities: 180

Polytechnics: 160

Colleges of Education: 160

More than 1.5 million candidates registered for the 2012 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

27,266 candidates had their results withheld for various reasons.

The national cut-off mark for admissions to universities in Nigeria for 2012/2013 academic session was fixed at 180, while the board set 160 as the cut-off mark for admissions into polytechnics, colleges of education and other diploma-awarding institutions.

The cut-off points were decided in Abuja, on Monday, at the 2012 combined policy committee meeting on admissions to degree-awarding institutions, National Diploma (ND), Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and National Innovation Diploma-awarding institutions.

Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, who chaired the meeting, urged the various institutions to adhere strictly to admission guidelines, which stipulated a 70:30 ratio for technology and non-technology for ND programmes and 60:40 science/arts ratio for the universities and colleges of education.

She also told them to observe the admission criteria of merit, catchment area and educationally less developed states in the Federal Government’s guidelines.

While commending JAMB for prompt release of the UTME results, the minister urged all the tertiary institutions in the country to establish e-testing centres, where the next UTME could be conducted.

Meanwhile, the Registrar and Chief Executive of JAMB, Professor ‘Dibu Ojerinde, speaking on the occasion, warned private universities in the country against conduct of illegal admissions of students.