The recently announced minimum cut-off marks for universities in Nigeria have sparked renewed debates regarding the quality of education in the country. The scores set by JAMB have become a subject of discussion among stakeholders and the public.
Cut-off Marks for Nigerian Tertiary Institutions
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced new minimum cut-off marks for higher education institutions in Nigeria for the 2025/2026 academic session. The threshold was set at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education, and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences. These changes aim to broaden access to education and prepare professionals in society.
2025 Performance Statistics
The UTME results for 2025 marked the best performance since 2017, but only 0.88% of candidates scored 300 and above. According to data from JAMB, this year, 17,025 candidates (0.88%) achieved scores of 300 or more, while 565,698 (29.3%) scored 200 and above. As such, the statistics indicate that 2025 was the best year in the last 13 years. However, despite the positive results, concerns about the reasons for low performance persist.
Concerns About Education Quality
Critics argue that lowering the cut-off scores could negatively affect the educational standard in Nigeria, particularly in competitive fields. One social media user expressed that a cut-off mark of 150 signals a crisis in the educational system. They contend that the emphasis on social status as represented in social media overshadows the value of formal education. Consequently, there appears to be an undeniable link between exam performance outcomes and the declining educational standards.
Overall, the changes in cut-off marks confirm the challenging situation within the Nigerian education system. While JAMB insists on the importance of accessibility to higher education, experts fear for the quality of graduates and stress the need to reassess priorities in educational policy.
