On Tuesday, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) fixed 150 as the minimum UTME score for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session—a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from the public and reignited debate over the state of Nigeria’s educational standards.
The new benchmark, announced during the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions in Abuja, also approved 100 as the minimum score for polytechnics and colleges of education, and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences.
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Though framed as a consensus among stakeholders, including vice chancellors and heads of tertiary institutions, many Nigerians view the 150 cutoff as a troubling sign of the continued decline in academic expectations.
“The minimum admissible scores for admissions for the next academic session have been fixed at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics, 100 for colleges of education and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences by the stakeholders (Heads of Tertiary Institutions),” JAMB wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This new benchmark follows a trend of steady reductions: from 200 in the past, to 180, and now 150. While JAMB maintains that institutions are free to set their own higher minimums, the national standard still serves as a symbolic indicator of what is deemed acceptable academic performance.
On social media, reactions have been overwhelmingly negative. Many users accuse JAMB of institutionalising mediocrity. One user, Salako, described the announcement as an admission of failure: “The registrar of JAMB is admittedly saying that he’s incapable of maintaining the academic standard of the examining body… Why make the cutoff mark 100? Why not make it 50 and 22 for the North?”
Others, like Toheem Alim, saw the move as symptomatic of a broken system: “Setting the university cutoff mark at 150 is a glaring sign that the standard of education in Nigeria is crumbling.”
Critics argue that lowering the bar for university admission fails to address the root causes of poor performance, such as underfunded schools, outdated curricula, and widespread inequality in access to quality education.
Instead, they say, it creates a false sense of progress by allowing more students into tertiary institutions without the academic preparation needed to succeed. Some fear this will lead to higher dropout rates, unemployable graduates, and an even weaker academic reputation globally.
However, defenders of the decision point to equity and access. In a country where disparities in educational resources are stark, especially between urban and rural areas, setting a lower benchmark may help level the playing field for disadvantaged students. It could also reduce pressure on admission seekers and give universities the flexibility to judge candidates based on broader criteria.
Yet, the broader concern remains: who truly benefits from this policy shift? In the short term, universities struggling with low enrollment may fill more seats. Politically, it may project inclusivity and responsiveness to access concerns. But in the long term, the real cost may be borne by students entering institutions underprepared, by lecturers forced to lower academic rigor, and by an economy that depends on a well-trained workforce.
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If Nigeria’s goal is to build a globally competitive educational system, then setting such low admission standards may prove counterproductive. Access without quality is no solution. The outrage on social media is not just emotional, it is a reflection of deep anxiety about the future of education in the country.
Philip Ibitoye is a Special Correspondent with EKO HOT BLOG. Click here to find daily analysis and critical insight on trending issues in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria.
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