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President, Anti-corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN),
Professor Sola Akinrinade (left), presenting some publications
from the academy to Professor Ishaq Oloyede recently |
UTME 2019:
Why JAMB set 160 as cutoff point for varsities
Why JAMB set 160 as cutoff point for varsities
UJI ABDULLAHI ILIYASU examines Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s
(JAMB) cut-off point for universities and measures put in place check malpractices
in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) and reports that
they helped in giving the UTME result reliability and validity.
(JAMB) cut-off point for universities and measures put in place check malpractices
in the 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) and reports that
they helped in giving the UTME result reliability and validity.
Last week, JAMB announced that students who scored at least 160
out of 400 marks in the Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination (UTME), are
eligible for admission into public universities in the country, and 140 for
private universities.
out of 400 marks in the Unified Tertiary Matriculations Examination (UTME), are
eligible for admission into public universities in the country, and 140 for
private universities.
This was announced after the commission’s 19th policy
meeting on admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria on June 11, 2019.
meeting on admissions to tertiary institutions in Nigeria on June 11, 2019.
Many parents, civil rights groups, students and many
stakeholders have criticised the board for
lowering the off mark in a country where the many agree the standard of
education is rapidly falling.
stakeholders have criticised the board for
lowering the off mark in a country where the many agree the standard of
education is rapidly falling.
Although much of the criticisms go to JAMB as the
examining board, the decision to lower cutoff marks was not a unilateral one.
examining board, the decision to lower cutoff marks was not a unilateral one.
At the policy meeting where the decision was taken, various
schoolheads, administrators, vice chancellors, provosts, rectors, admission
officers, registrars from federal, state, and private universities as well as colleges
of education and polytechnics were present.
schoolheads, administrators, vice chancellors, provosts, rectors, admission
officers, registrars from federal, state, and private universities as well as colleges
of education and polytechnics were present.
The cutoff point is the minimum UTME score a
candidates is required to score before he can be admitted into a tertiary
institution.
candidates is required to score before he can be admitted into a tertiary
institution.
For private universities the score is 140, public
polytechnics 120, private polytechnics 110, and colleges of education 100.
polytechnics 120, private polytechnics 110, and colleges of education 100.
Last week, JAMB registrar,
Professor Is’haq Oloyede said, “The admission process would be guided by
the approved institutional/programmes cutoff marks and minimum UTME score, as
submitted by the respective institutions,”
Professor Is’haq Oloyede said, “The admission process would be guided by
the approved institutional/programmes cutoff marks and minimum UTME score, as
submitted by the respective institutions,”
In fact, parents and candidates are yet to see if the
new cut-off point is going to be adhered to by the universities across
Nigeria. Some university administrators believe
that raising higher cutoff mark is the same thing as higher student achievement
in the school, thus taking pride in fixing higher marks.
new cut-off point is going to be adhered to by the universities across
Nigeria. Some university administrators believe
that raising higher cutoff mark is the same thing as higher student achievement
in the school, thus taking pride in fixing higher marks.
When the cutoff mark for admission into public
universities was set to 120 in 2017, many institutions who were immersed in
self importance such as the University of Lagos, University of Benin, and the
University of Nigeria, Nsukka set their own cutoff marks at 200, the marks were
even set higher depending on the course a candidate applied for.
universities was set to 120 in 2017, many institutions who were immersed in
self importance such as the University of Lagos, University of Benin, and the
University of Nigeria, Nsukka set their own cutoff marks at 200, the marks were
even set higher depending on the course a candidate applied for.
Reasons for
cuts in UTME score
cuts in UTME score
It is worthy of note that tertiary institutions are
usually asked to submit individual minimum acceptable marks before a final
general decision is taken by all stakeholders.
usually asked to submit individual minimum acceptable marks before a final
general decision is taken by all stakeholders.
Universities have been reported to advocate for lower
cutoff marks for reasons bordering on
failure to find enough students to fill their admission slots being the
major one.
cutoff marks for reasons bordering on
failure to find enough students to fill their admission slots being the
major one.
Some higher schools have been reported to be unable to
meet their admission quotas for some years. These categories of schools take
desperate steps towards admitting students who scored below official cutoff marks
like 180, accepted by a number of universities in the past.
meet their admission quotas for some years. These categories of schools take
desperate steps towards admitting students who scored below official cutoff marks
like 180, accepted by a number of universities in the past.
Professor Oloyede in 2017 said that institutions went
as far as admitting as much as 17,160 students who didn’t even sit for UTME as
required just to catch up with their admission quotas.
as far as admitting as much as 17,160 students who didn’t even sit for UTME as
required just to catch up with their admission quotas.
Just like in the past, many stakeholders in the
education sector have condemned the new cutoff point as an exploitative measure
for institutions to make higher returns from post-UTME, but overlooking its
disadvantages to the nation’s education standards.
education sector have condemned the new cutoff point as an exploitative measure
for institutions to make higher returns from post-UTME, but overlooking its
disadvantages to the nation’s education standards.
Professor Oloyede had earlier appealed to institutions
not to be deparate in their admission policies.
not to be deparate in their admission policies.
“We should not be
sentimental in fixing our cut-off point; we need not over-dramatise the issue
of cut-off point,” he said.
sentimental in fixing our cut-off point; we need not over-dramatise the issue
of cut-off point,” he said.
Curtailing
examination malpractices
examination malpractices
JAMB was proactive by
providing a numbers of measures aimed at checking exam practices thus curtailing
erosion of values in the unified tertiary matriculation examinations (UTME). To ensure this, at the release of 2018
results, it publicly announced that the results of 2019 would not be released until
the procedure was subjected to scrutiny
and took a number of checks which included ascertaining the degrees of success of the
structure, infrastructure, policies and processes put in place to checkmate the
not very few who believe in pervasively illegitimate means of achieving set
ambitions and goals.
providing a numbers of measures aimed at checking exam practices thus curtailing
erosion of values in the unified tertiary matriculation examinations (UTME). To ensure this, at the release of 2018
results, it publicly announced that the results of 2019 would not be released until
the procedure was subjected to scrutiny
and took a number of checks which included ascertaining the degrees of success of the
structure, infrastructure, policies and processes put in place to checkmate the
not very few who believe in pervasively illegitimate means of achieving set
ambitions and goals.
Forgers
and fraudsters
and fraudsters
A cluster of fraudsters who
had been benefiting from examination malpractice went to the extent of forging
the registrar’s signature, writing fictitious petitions threatening the
government that heavens would fall unless certain rules were changed or
relaxed.
had been benefiting from examination malpractice went to the extent of forging
the registrar’s signature, writing fictitious petitions threatening the
government that heavens would fall unless certain rules were changed or
relaxed.
They also engaged in other
unbecoming conduct to pressurise JAMB to capitulate their desires/ but they
were all mistaken as the JAMB enjoyed the backing of the federal government,
especially the Federal Ministry of Education.
unbecoming conduct to pressurise JAMB to capitulate their desires/ but they
were all mistaken as the JAMB enjoyed the backing of the federal government,
especially the Federal Ministry of Education.
Partnering security operatives and relevant agencies on cyber crimes; engaging the machineries and sponsoring them in order to tap from their
knowledge; movement of some services to the registration portal in order to
prevent extortion of candidates were also measures aimed at checking
fraudsters.
knowledge; movement of some services to the registration portal in order to
prevent extortion of candidates were also measures aimed at checking
fraudsters.
UTME candidates in foreign centres
Jamb conducted exams for non-Nigerians and Nigerians who are products of
foreign secondary school system as well as Nigerians who are confirmed residents in
foreign countries for at six month-stay.
foreign secondary school system as well as Nigerians who are confirmed residents in
foreign countries for at six month-stay.
Foreign candidates were given a number of conditions for eligibility.
Awaiting
result candidates
result candidates
JAMB allowed awaiting result candidates to register and to also sit for
the 2019 UTME, but these candidates wouldn’t be considered for admission on awaiting
result status.
the 2019 UTME, but these candidates wouldn’t be considered for admission on awaiting
result status.
2019 mock
examination
examination
The board conducted the third mock
examination on April 1, 2019 to identify problems that might arise during the
main examinations; to test the new systems introduced in deploying the CBT
examination; to allow candidates familiarise themselves with the new software
and test their level of preparedness and efficiency during the main
examination.
examination on April 1, 2019 to identify problems that might arise during the
main examinations; to test the new systems introduced in deploying the CBT
examination; to allow candidates familiarise themselves with the new software
and test their level of preparedness and efficiency during the main
examination.
The main
examination
examination
The main examination was conducted throughout the federation in April, from
11-18, 2019.
11-18, 2019.
2019 UTME
foreign centres
foreign centres
To consolidating real-time CBT exams, JAMB deployed live from its
headquarters in Abuja and Benin Republic, Cameroun, Cote D’ Ivoire, Ghana, Saudi
Arabia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
headquarters in Abuja and Benin Republic, Cameroun, Cote D’ Ivoire, Ghana, Saudi
Arabia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Prohibited
items during examination
items during examination
JAMB had earlier notified the candidates to avoid bringing in a numbers
of items that might give some students edge over others. These include watches, recorders pen/biro, microphones, mobile
phones or similar electronic devices, ear pieces, spy reading glasses (which
must be scrutinized), ink/pen readers, calculators or similar electronic
devices smart lenses. Others were USB, CD, hard disks and similar storage devices,
smart rings/jewellery, books or any reading/writing material, smart buttons,
cameras, Bluetooth devices, ATM cards, key holders and erasers.
of items that might give some students edge over others. These include watches, recorders pen/biro, microphones, mobile
phones or similar electronic devices, ear pieces, spy reading glasses (which
must be scrutinized), ink/pen readers, calculators or similar electronic
devices smart lenses. Others were USB, CD, hard disks and similar storage devices,
smart rings/jewellery, books or any reading/writing material, smart buttons,
cameras, Bluetooth devices, ATM cards, key holders and erasers.
Remote
Network Monitoring
Network Monitoring
Usually JAMB
experienced the deliberate movement of candidates from one computer
to the other during the examination to indulge in examination malpractice. Therefore, the board installed software during
accreditation on all the computers to be used by the CBT centres during the examination.
This allowed officials to monitor all activities going on at the centre on a
real time basis. Candidates press the letters A,B,C,D for responses to questions.
Hoever, those who enco0untered some problems could press P for Previous question; N for Next question,
and S for Submit responses. When
candidate had finished examination, they pressed R for Reverse (do not intend to go further to submit
again). and Y To confirm submission (intend to go further to submit again after
pressing S).
experienced the deliberate movement of candidates from one computer
to the other during the examination to indulge in examination malpractice. Therefore, the board installed software during
accreditation on all the computers to be used by the CBT centres during the examination.
This allowed officials to monitor all activities going on at the centre on a
real time basis. Candidates press the letters A,B,C,D for responses to questions.
Hoever, those who enco0untered some problems could press P for Previous question; N for Next question,
and S for Submit responses. When
candidate had finished examination, they pressed R for Reverse (do not intend to go further to submit
again). and Y To confirm submission (intend to go further to submit again after
pressing S).
This has solved complaints by any candidate who claimed he/she mistakenly
pressed letter S twice and that ended his/her session.
pressed letter S twice and that ended his/her session.
Blind
candidates
candidates
Many of the blind candidates have not been exposed to the relevant
technology in their various schools. An abridged approach, therefore, was used for
them. All prospective blind candidates were invited to five centres in the country
for special assessment.
technology in their various schools. An abridged approach, therefore, was used for
them. All prospective blind candidates were invited to five centres in the country
for special assessment.
Admission
without JAMB number
without JAMB number
Candidates who earlier sat for the UTME in the past apply for acceptance
of illegitimate admission to be able to have a new date of birth and name’ for
the purpose of participation in national service Backend programme detects such candidates and
approvals were not granted,
of illegitimate admission to be able to have a new date of birth and name’ for
the purpose of participation in national service Backend programme detects such candidates and
approvals were not granted,
The list of such candidates and institutions were being compiled, and the
board will soon prosecute the candidates and the institutions, including its
heads, for such fraud. Examples are found in Taraba State University and
Kwararafa University, Wukari.
board will soon prosecute the candidates and the institutions, including its
heads, for such fraud. Examples are found in Taraba State University and
Kwararafa University, Wukari.
Review of
admission criteria
admission criteria
Admission needs to be reviewed. There is the need to review the formula
to make our institutions more national (as envisaged in the inclusion of
catchment area in the criteria – which has been so abused; international inclusion
of foreign candidates; more inclusive inclusion of special needs candidates;
more realistic restoring and recognising some discretionary admissions, and the
nationalisation of localised national institutions.
to make our institutions more national (as envisaged in the inclusion of
catchment area in the criteria – which has been so abused; international inclusion
of foreign candidates; more inclusive inclusion of special needs candidates;
more realistic restoring and recognising some discretionary admissions, and the
nationalisation of localised national institutions.
A new formula is long overdue to be proposed to the National Council on
Education (NCE). JAMB and tertiary institutions
are to ensure that admission periods are sacrosanct and must be followed and
adhered to; first choice admissions must
be done during the period earmarked for first choice, other choices must be processed
during the timelines set out for them, JAMB said.
Education (NCE). JAMB and tertiary institutions
are to ensure that admission periods are sacrosanct and must be followed and
adhered to; first choice admissions must
be done during the period earmarked for first choice, other choices must be processed
during the timelines set out for them, JAMB said.
2019
admission timelines
admission timelines
JAMB would communicate admission programmes, calendars and timetables to tertiary
institutions immediately after this policy meeting. At the end of the first
choice period, all candidates not admitted would be pulled out of the institutions’
platform on CAPS and be made available to other willing institutions. Any
candidate who has chosen an institution as second, third or fourth choice does
not need any change of choice or payment to JAMB to be considered for admission
during the period of the second choice admission.
institutions immediately after this policy meeting. At the end of the first
choice period, all candidates not admitted would be pulled out of the institutions’
platform on CAPS and be made available to other willing institutions. Any
candidate who has chosen an institution as second, third or fourth choice does
not need any change of choice or payment to JAMB to be considered for admission
during the period of the second choice admission.
By the forgoing measures JAMB, under the leadership of Professor Oloyede
was able to check the excesses of candidates and institutions, and thus holds
firm to its integrity as a tertiary institutions entrance examining body and
regulator.
was able to check the excesses of candidates and institutions, and thus holds
firm to its integrity as a tertiary institutions entrance examining body and
regulator.