JAMB, Stakeholders to Determine 2026 Admission Cut-Off Marks May 11

JAMB, Stakeholders to Determine 2026 Admission Cut-Off Marks May 11

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board will determine the minimum acceptable Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scores for the 2026/2027 admission exercise during its annual Policy Meeting scheduled for May 11, 2026, in Abuja.

The high-level meeting is expected to bring together major stakeholders in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector to deliberate on admission benchmarks, guidelines, and policies that will govern admissions into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.

According to a statement issued by JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the meeting will take place at the Body of Benchers Auditorium, Plot 688, Institute and Research District, FCC Phase III, Jabi, Abuja.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, is expected to declare the meeting open and unveil the Federal Government’s policy direction for the 2026/2027 admission cycle.

JAMB explained that the annual policy meeting remains one of the board’s most important exercises, as stakeholders collectively determine the minimum tolerable UTME scores and other regulatory frameworks guiding admissions into tertiary institutions.

“The Board’s annual policy meeting on admissions is a crucial annual gathering where stakeholders decide minimum tolerable UTME marks, admission guidelines, and policies for tertiary institutions,” the statement read.

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“Furthermore, the meeting is expected to formally set the tone for the 2026/2027 admission exercise while impressing it on attendees the need to adhere strictly to stipulated guidelines.”

Participants expected at the meeting include vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, registrars, admission officers, and representatives of major education regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission, the National Commission for Colleges of Education, and the National Board for Technical Education.

The meeting comes amid growing public interest in admission benchmarks following recent debates over UTME performance trends, admission standards, and access to tertiary education across the country.

Although JAMB has yet to announce the official cut-off marks for the 2026/2027 session, previous policy meetings approved different minimum scores for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, with institutions retaining the flexibility to set higher internal benchmarks.

Stakeholders are also expected to review compliance mechanisms aimed at ensuring transparency, merit, and fairness in the admission process, especially following concerns in recent years over irregular admissions and quota implementation.

In addition to admission policy discussions, the event will feature the 6th edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M), an initiative introduced by JAMB to reward institutions that demonstrate strict compliance with admission regulations and best practices.

The awards recognise tertiary institutions that uphold merit-based admissions, timely processing, and adherence to JAMB’s central admission system.

Education analysts say the outcome of the May 11 meeting will shape the admission landscape for millions of candidates seeking placement into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions for the 2026/2027 academic session.

 

JAMB, Stakeholders to Determine 2026 Admission Cut-Off Marks May 11