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Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), has stated that a high UTME score is not what guarantees admission for candidates.
He said that admission depends on combination of a JAMB score that meets the approved cut-off mark, post-UTME score, ‘O’ level results and other admission criteria as determined by the candidate’s institution of choice.
Prof Oloyede disclosed this on Thursday at an intensive training and sensitisation forum on Central Admissions Processing System for the 2017/2018 academic session held in Abuja.
He added that institutions determine the institutional, programme and course cut-off marks and other admission criteria in exercise of their autonomy.
He explained that the cut-off mark by JAMB is only a threshold below which no institution can admit candidates.
His words: “JAMB is not an examination body; rather, it is a ranking body. If there are enough spaces in the tertiary institutions, there may not be need for UTME.
“JAMB is a screening body to rank already qualified candidates. It is a coordinating and clearing house.
“The cut-off mark is not a pass or fail mark. It is not the total score but one of many factors such as post-UTME (where applicable), ‘O’ Level results scoring, etc.”
He added that regulating agencies such as the National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education, National Commission for Colleges of Education, among others, could decide the admission quota for institutions.
He further explained that JAMB introduced CAPS so as to ensure that every UTME candidate gets fair treatment.
Oloyede said with CAPS, candidates now have the choice to either accept or reject admission offer.
The JAMB boss advised candidates to ensure that they indicate the acceptance or rejection of admission online and timely to enable the processing of their admission. He also urged institutions to comply with their advertised criteria for admission, including the cut-off marks.