Education: JAMB Announces Official Cut Off-Marks 2013/2014

The Minister of Education, Ruqayatu
Rufai, has announced the cut-off
marks for students that sat for the
2013 Joint Admission and
Matriculation Board, JAMB, higher
institution examinations. The
minister announced that the cut-off
mark would be 180 for universities,
and 150 for polytechnics and colleges
of education.
With the current situation where
various universities hold post-UME
examinations, it implies that all
students who score above 180 should
be allowed to sit for the post-UME
examinations in the universities
they chose.
Mrs. Rufa’i announced the cut-off
points at the Fourth Combined Policy
Meeting on Admission to Degree-
Awarding Institutions, National
Diploma (ND), Nigeria Certificate in
Education (NCE) and National
Innovation Diploma (NID) awarding
institutions.
She said the meeting was to plan for
the selection of qualified candidates
into the nations tertiary institutions
and also to restore confidence in the
education system.
“I implore all stakeholders to follow
the Federal Government’s guidelines
on admission which stipulates a 70:30
Technology/Non-Technology ratio for
ND programmes.
“Also, 60:40 Science/Arts ratio for
Degree and Nigeria Certificate in
Education programmes and also to
observe the criteria on merit,
catchments and educationally less
developed states.
“In addition, we must not forget the
carrying-capacity of our institutions
as approved by the accrediting
bodies,’’ she said.
According to her, the accreditation
bodies are the National Universities
Commission (NUC), National Board
for Technical Education (NBTE) and
National Commission for Colleges of
Education (NCCE).
Mrs. Rufa’i said in order to enhance
the carrying capacities of the
country’s institutions the ministry
had undertaken continuous
development and rehabilitation of
infrastructure in the institutions of
higher learning.
She, however, said the Tertiary
Education Trust Fund had disbursed
N256.4 billion over the past three
years for diverse development
activities in the institutions. She said
that at the polytechnic level all the 51
Federal and state and polytechnics
had benefited from rehabilitation
and upgrading of their laboratories
to 21st century standards at a total of
N15 billion. She said that this had
helped to enhance the teaching and
learning process in the institutions.
She also said that work had also
started on the construction of micro-
teaching laboratories in our colleges
of education.
The minister also said that all
Federal Colleges of Education and
one state College of Education per
state would benefit from this, making
a total of 58 institutions at a cost of
N11.6 billion.
“I am pleased that these
interventions continue to translate to
expanded carrying capacity in our
institutions. For this academic year,
we expect carrying capacity to
increase from 400,691 admitted last
year to over 500,000.
“I urge all institutions to carefully
examine their carrying capacities in
relation to their expanding
infrastructure. You must make sure
that you fill the quota for each
course,” she said.
She called on all institutions to
adhere to the admission timetable as
prepared by the Joint Admission and
Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Mrs. Rufa’i commended JAMB on the
successful conduct of the 2013 UTME.
The Registrar of JAMB, Professor
Dibu Ojerinde, said the meeting was
to prepare grounds for needed
capital development to engineer the
Nigerian Technological growth that
would be attained through quality
and functional education of the
citizens.
“Let me remind all the federal
institutions that the ratio of 45:35:20
for merit, catchment and
educationally less-developed states,
respectively, is still in force and
should be adhered to strictly to
ensure national cohesion.
“All Nigerians must be given the
opportunity to mix and educate
freely in any part of the country,” he
said.
Mr. Ojerinde also said the ratio of
40:40:20 for merit, catchment and
educationally less-developed states
must be adhered to in state-owned
institutions.