Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) recently approved a new baseline of 150 as the minimum score for university admission for the 2024/2025 session.
Colleges of nursing now require 140, while polytechnics and education colleges ask for 100.
The decision followed pressure from schools advocating lower thresholds, according to JAMB Registrar Ishaq Oloyede
Although universities are free to set higher marks for each course, stakeholders warn this move could compromise learning standards.
Issa AbdurRaheem, Assistant National Secretary of CONUA, said students admitted with lower scores may struggle academically. He also cautioned that large classes could burden lecturers and strain facilities designed for fewer students, potentially leading to higher dropout rates
Others argue the change democratizes access.
Opeoluwa Taiwo from Africa Bridge Initiative believes it could widen opportunity for underserved students.
However, Jessica Osuere of RubiesHub Education Services noted the measure seems to be a reaction to 2025 UTME disruptions like server issues and exam glitches.
She warned it should remain a temporary fix attached to broader systemic changes
Education experts agree: access without underpinning reforms could erode Nigeria’s tertiary system. Lower admission barriers, they say, must be met with stronger infrastructure, improved teacher training, and expanded vocational pathways.
