By Nahum Sule (Taraba State Correspondent, in Jalingo)
Mixed reactions have trailed the decision of the Taraba State University (TSU) to peg the minimum cut-off mark for admissions into the university at 130.
Most Tarabans decried the reduction in the cut-off point, describing it as `too low' a requirement for admission’ into the university.
Dr Vincent Gassor, an Educationist, said that the pegging of the cut-off to 130 would encourage laziness and lower the standard of education in the state.
Speaking to some of the residents of the State on their take in the reduction of the mark, most respondents describe the University presently as a joke compared to the old days.
Dr Sa'ad Mohamed, the Director of information Taraba State University, said the reason for the reduction of the cut off mark is to accommodate the maximum numbers of students the institution wants.
In his words, he said "For people who are saying that our standard is falling, they should first of all go to other universities and see their cut off marks. It may interest you to know that because of the massive failure in JAMB this year, JAMB agreed that university are now free to fixed their cut off marks according to the numbers of candidates who applied.
"And in Taraba State University, we fixed our cut off mark based on the numbers of candidates who applied and those who made the cut off mark. If we set our cut off mark high, our admission spaces cannot be filled, that's is why will reduce it to accommodate the total number of candidates we want.
"People scoring 130 deserve to be admitted, so it's not wrong and it doesn't mean our standard is dwindling. Take for example, if we have spaces to admit 5000 students, and 16000 applied, and up to 8000 score above 160, will you still bring it down? But by the time you have 5000 spaces and you realize that less than 3000 scored above 150, you will have to come down to be able to accommodate other citizens. We have mission and vision and we are working in line withthat" he said.
Also speaking, Musa Danlami, a Post graduate student at Federal University in Wukari, noted that students failed JAMB woefully this year, and sequel to that, the NUC (National Universities Commission) has ordered every University to set their cut-off marks. However, to him, TSU (Taraba State University) cut-off mark (130) is too poor (less of standard) and discouraging.
Danlami said "The school hasn't attained any recognizable height, both nationally and internationally, and is quick to set a low standard. This is demeaning and shameful to the state. If the school is planning to keep a good reputation, then it is on the wrong path with this kind of decision."
Gowon Maimako, a civil servant and the chief admin officer of the Taraba State Geographic Information Systems, noted that cut-off mark reduction will end up producing graduates that can't defend their certificates.
"Presently now, 50% of Taraba State University students can't make correct sentences. And among the 50%, 25% are about to graduate. So what are you expecting from half baked students, talk more of reducing JAMB cut-off point to 130? 'Haba jama'a' we will end up birthing educated illiterate. I rest my case".
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER found out from Rimam Chindo, a concern citizen of Taraba and he feels the cut off point is a bit low and it puts the institution and the state in bad light. He states that it will only result in the admission of students who might not be adequately prepared and equipped for tertiary education.
Chindo said "The mentality of students just going to tertiary institutions as a measure of their success or because their peers are in school shouldn’t be encouraged with such low cut-off point. Certain standards should be maintained, because only in so doing will the educational institution groom young minds who will be best suited and equipped to effect desirable and timely change in the society".
Speaking to many Taraban as reaction keep trailing the 130 cut-off point, NEWSLEADER Correspondent spoke to some primary and secondary school teachers, and they also decried that the Taraba State University is being made to appear like a joke.
The Head Teacher of Ibrahim Kefas Primary School in Wukari, Mr Obedience Yerima David, noted that he doesn't think that when one scored 130 or below 180, it means such fellow is dull. But considering the fact that so many persons failed JAMB exam this year, it gave rise to the reduction of the cut off mark by the authorities of the Universities
"Be that as it may, not everyone who scored below 180 is brilliant but then, the school felt they should be admitted. And I don't think that will reduce the quality of graduates in the university".
Also Njure Daniel, a secondary school teacher said this development is a dead end for education in Nigeria. According to him, this will affect not just the educational sector but also the political organization. He said if out of 400 JAMB marks, one can't scoreup to 180 which is not even up to half of the 400 total JAMB mark, then such candidate should be disqualified.
However, some parents, teachers and students in Jalingo, the Taraba state capital also expressed mixed feelings over the reduction of the cut-off marks for admissions to tertiary institutions.
According to some of them, they said they used to think passing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) reflects candidate intelligence to an extent, but now to secure admission at 130 marks leaves a wrong impression.
In a report by JAMB, 569,395 of the 1.7 million candidates that wrote this year’s UTME scored over 200 marks. NNL.
