Nigeria’s Joint Admissions And Matriculation Board (JAMB) has pegged the 2024/2025 admission cut-off mark for universities, and polytechnics & Colleges Of Education, at 140 and 100 respectively. Sure, some leading federal universities will likely put the numbers at around 190 even as the Board will be doing all possible to ensure some forgettable schools do not admit below 140. The highest score possible is 400.

First, I admire the current leadership of JAMB. The team has served Nigeria on many domains. Yet, I have a question: why should Nigeria make its pass mark 35% to be admitted into its universities? At least when we wrote JAMB, the typical cut-off was 210. Yes, there was a pass in the exam. So, reading this era of 140 is unfortunate.

And the most troubling: our future teachers are expected to pass with 25% when those going to work in fintechs, banks, etc will need at least 35%. How does that help Nigeria? Does it mean that teachers are not expected to be average?

Unless we take a stand, we are in a vicious cycle where we are not pushing kids to aim more and pass exams with at least 50% score.