Chief Afe Babalola (SAN) who is the founder of the renowned AFe Babalola University in Ado Ekiti has launched a staggering attack on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for its decision to reduce the cut off marks for admission into higher education institutions in the country.

Chief Babalola lamented that 120 is merely 30% of the total 400 marks available in the exams and suggested that the marks should not be less than 50% of the obtainable score.

“What is the whole essence of reducing cut-off marks for admission to as low as 120 for universities and 100 for polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education? Will such an action enhance or reduce the quality of education?" Babalola asked.

“Will it give international recognition to the degrees awarded by the Nigerian universities which, in any case, are already being questioned? Is the reduction a deliberate ploy to make things worse?” he continued.

“Are we now saying there will be no uniform standards in our tertiary education in this country? Is the government or its agencies encouraging double or multiple standards?

“I do hope that those behind this reduction are aware that even candidates who pass the UTME at 180 and above now find it difficult and tasking to get admission into Nigerian universities because there are more qualified candidates than the spaces available and because of the paucity of facilities in the existing universities.

“It must be appreciated that even the former 180 cut-off mark is less than 50 per cent of the total JAMB marks. As I said earlier, a minimum of 50 per cent was regarded and acknowledged as pass mark in elementary schools in those days and now JAMB is recommending 120, a mere 30 per cent of the total score of 400.”