2026 UTME: Teacher Writes Open Letter to JAMB, Ministry of Education Over Low Admission Cut-Off Mark
- Ahead of the JAMB policy meeting, a teacher has written an open letter to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board
- The teacher also drew the attention of the Ministry of Education to his concern over admission cut-off marks
- The content of his message to the exam body and the education ministry has gone viral on social media
Ahead of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) 2026 policy meeting, which is set to take place on 11 May 2026, a teacher has written an open letter to the JAMB board over the issue of lowering admission cut-off marks.
The individual tagged the official social media handle of JAMB as well as the spokesman of the organization in order to draw attention to his observation.
Source: TikTok
2026 UTME: Teacher writes letter to JAMB
The teacher, @MaomahuO, tagged the open letter to JAMB, the spokesman of the body, and also the Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria.
The title read:
"AN OPEN LETTER TO @JAMBHQ, @FabianB58246501 AND THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION @NigEducation."
"A CALL TO RESTORE STANDARDS IN NIGERIA’S ADMISSION SYSTEM."
He respectfully shared his observation:
"Dear Sir,"
"As you prepare for the upcoming national policy meeting on admissions, I write to express a deep concern shared by many educators, parents, and stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector."
"There is a growing unease about the continuous lowering of admissible cut-off marks for tertiary institutions, particularly the practice of peg.ging university admission scores at 150 or even below, and as low as 100 for Colleges of Education. While the intention may be to increase access, the long-term implications of such policies are damaging to the integrity and quality of our education system."
In the above, the teacher pointed out that he has noticed a continuous lowering of admission cut-off marks for institutions and warned of the negative effects of this.
He continued:
"Education is the foundation upon which national development is built. When standards are compromised at the point of entry, the consequences ripple across every sector, producing graduates who may be certified but lack the competence required to function effectively in their respective fields."
"It is particularly troubling that Colleges of Education, institutions responsible for training future teachers, now admit candidates with significantly lower scores. Teaching is not a profession that should accommodate academic mediocrity; rather, it should attract some of the brightest minds. Lowering the bar sends the wrong message about the value and dignity of the teaching profession."
"About a decade ago, admission into Colleges of Education was competitive, with candidates scoring 187, 189, and above. Today, the narrative has shifted drastically. This decline not only affects the quality of teachers being produced but also weakens the entire education system at its core."
"Even more concerning is the inconsistency across sectors. For instance, Colleges of Nursing, critical to our healthcare system, often require higher cut-off marks, sometimes around 180. This raises an important question: why is a profession that shapes the minds of future generations subjected to lower standards than others?"
Source: TikTok
@MaomahuO spoke more about what this act might do to the education sector in the country and called for a review of this by the exam body, and also the Federal Ministry of Education.
He added:
"The current system risks sending a dangerous signal to young Nigerians, particularly Gen Z, that merit and excellence are no longer essential. It creates a perception that the process is unserious, thereby eroding trust in our educational institutions."
"Access to education is important, but it must not come at the expense of quality. Instead of lowering standards, efforts should be directed toward improving foundational education, providing adequate learning resources, and supporting students to meet higher academic expectations."
"Therefore, I respectfully urge JAMB and the Federal Ministry of Education to reconsider the current admission benchmarks. Raising the cut-off marks, especially for Colleges of Education, will not only restore credibility but also reaffirm the nation’s commitment to excellence."
"Nigeria cannot afford to gamble with the quality of its human capital. The time to act is now."
"Yours faithfully,"
"Wusu Emmanuel."
"A Concerned Educator."
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In a similar story, Legit.ng reported that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that its 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions will hold on Monday, May 11, 2026, in Abuja. The meeting will bring together key stakeholders in the education sector to determine the minimum UTME cut-off marks and other admission guidelines for the 2026/2027 academic session.
UNILAG releases 2025/2026 UTME cut-off marks
Meanwhile, Legit.ng recently reported that the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has released its 2025/2026 UTME cut-off marks for admission into various courses, including Accounting and Civil Engineering.
The institution outlined different requirements based on merit and catchment areas, with specific scores set for each department.
Source: Legit.ng
