House Of Reps Faults JAMB’s Decision To Reduce Cut-Off Marks

The House Of Representatives has faulted the decision by the Joint Admissions And Matriculation Board to reduce cut-off marks required for admissions into tertiary institutions.

At the plenary presided by Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, the lawmakers mandated the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to investigate the circumstances that led to the adoption of the measure and report back within four weeks.

Lawmakers say they are confused on the rationale for JAMB’s announcement of a 120 point cut-off mark which represents only 30 percent of the total examination mark of 400 for admission into universities and a 100 point cut off for Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

And the Senate is to hold a public hearing on whether to retain or scrap the Post-UTME examination conducted by universities so that only tests by JAMB will be required for entry into Nigerian universities.

The decision followed a motion by Senator Umaru Kurfi at today’s plenary calling for a total scrap of the Post-UTME.

But in his intervention, the Senate President asked that educationists, examiners, parents and students be consulted before the Senate takes a decision.