Poly lecturers reject JAMB cut off marks

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has described as “embarrassing” the recent cut off point announced by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

National President of ASUP, Comrade Usman Dutse who spoke in Abuja Weekend, said the cut off point announced by the regulator represents 25 percent of the examination which is 400 marks, noting that globally, 25 percent represents failure which should not be encouraged.

Comrade Dutse said JAMB should have consulted the stakeholders for inputs if its wanted to review the cut off point, “rather than unilaterally fixing such a ridiculous figure for an exam that should test a student capability.”

He said, “We don’t actually know what JAMB wants to achieve with that decision but as a major stakeholder all we know is that 100 and120 as a cut off points are too low. I believe in any global standard examination rating 25 percent is failure because 100 and 120 is more of 25 percent of the exam. So, using that as a benchmark standard is degrading and the effect would be that quality would be eroded.

“And the notion by JAMB that institution can upgrade the mark to suit their need is funny because if institutions can upgrade the marks higher than JAMB cut off point, it means that there is no need for people to write JAMB but to allow schools to conduct their exams and admit students according to their standard.”

The ASUP president further said if students after scoring 120 in JAMB and are expected to sit for post UMTE shows that JAMB has lost its relevance.

“Writing JAMB with 120 marks and sitting for post UTME shows that JAMB has lost its relevance so we feel that decision is wrong and it would not go well with tertiary institution because the decision ridicules the higher institution in the country.”