By Saheed Ibrahim

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Nigerian lecturers have criticised the newly announced minimum acceptable Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board 140 score as a demeaning threshold that can plunge the education sector into turmoil.

Recall, JAMB and other stakeholders in the education sector on July 18, 2024, pegged the minimum benchmark score for admission into universities at 140 and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education.

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said it was descending admitting students with scores as low as 30 per cent.

“So why are we descending to this level where universities admit candidates who scored as low as 30 per cent in their exams? When you look at reputable institutions like the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, they won’t accept anything less than 200. Yet, some universities, especially newer private ones, admit students with scores as low as 140.

“This situation is widespread across the country, not just in the north. Many schools are lowering their admission standards.”

He complained about the quality of teachers across secondary schools in the country.

“Back in the day, you couldn’t even dream of getting into a good school with a score below 200. But now, government schools at all levels are struggling, and admissions are increasingly going to private institutions that operate on a cash-and-carry basis. If action isn’t taken soon, our universities will continue to decline.”

Chairman of ASUU at Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof. Tony Odiwe, emphasised that the 140 mark would have a detrimental impact on both the quality of students and the educational system.

He added, “The national cutoff marks are set, but they are not necessarily followed by most established universities. For instance, at OAU, the cutoff is not less than 200 to even qualify for post-UTME or admission consideration. This discrepancy implies a potential negative effect on student quality and overall educational standards.”

Also, the Head of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, Prof. Poju Tejumaiye, criticised the 140 mark as indicative of the education system’s failure.

He suggested that JAMB should reconsider its minimum score to 40 per cent, which would equate to 160 out of 400, instead of the current 30 per cent.