Stakeholders fix cut-off points, minimum entry age into tertiary institutions
By Uji A. Iliyasu, Abuja
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector have agreed on new admission guidelines for the 2025/2026 academic session. At the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Policy Meeting held in Abuja and chaired by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, it was resolved that the minimum cut-off mark for universities will now be 150. Polytechnics and colleges of education set theirs at 100, while colleges of nursing and agriculture agreed on 140 and 100 respectively.
The meeting also established admission deadlines: October 31, 2025, for public universities; November 30 for private universities; and December 31 for polytechnics and colleges of education. The minister stressed that any candidate who fails to accept their admission within four weeks of the offer will forfeit it.
Reiterating the 16-year minimum age requirement for entry into tertiary institutions, Alausa described it as non-negotiable, stating that exceptions will only apply to gifted students with verified accelerated academic histories. He warned against age manipulation, noting that offenders would face federal sanctions.
Alausa underscored the exclusivity of JAMB’s Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) for all admission processes, warning institutions that any admission conducted outside this platform is illegal and will attract penalties including withdrawal of admission quotas and possible prosecution.
To combat examination malpractice, the Ministry of Education is establishing a Central Examination Malpractice Unit led by the Permanent Secretary. The unit will work with JAMB, WAEC, NECO, and others to maintain a national database of malpractice cases and coordinate enforcement efforts. Furthermore, recommendations from a committee headed by JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede have been approved, mandating the use of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) across all major exam bodies.
The Minister expressed concern over disparities in university application numbers. He revealed that 121 universities each recorded fewer than 50 applicants, while only 10 institutions attracted over 40,000 applications. He identified this as a problem of capacity misalignment rather than access, cautioning lawmakers against pushing for more tertiary institutions. According to him, many existing ones are underutilised and do little to improve access or quality.
To address infrastructure and training gaps in strategic sectors, the Federal Government has released a N10 billion intervention fund for 18 medical and technical training institutions. Each university will receive N4 billion, alongside N70 million per school earmarked for hostel development. The funds will support the establishment of simulation laboratories, renovation of classrooms, and provision of facilities for pharmacy, dentistry, engineering, digital technology, and other critical disciplines.