WorldStage– The clamour for full implementation of University autonomy received a boost following announcement by the Federal Ministry of Education that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will no longer serve as a mandatory prerequisite for gaining admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
This reform by the Federal Government has put an end to age long monopoly enjoyed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The new policy, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education on recently, aims to expand access to tertiary education, remove long-standing barriers, and give more qualified candidates the opportunity to pursue their academic dreams.
According to the statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, the reform, driven by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to democratize education and empower Nigerian youths.
Dr. Alausa explained that the policy review became necessary after years of restricted access caused by outdated admission procedures.
He noted that while over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, only about 700,000 are admitted, leaving many qualified applicants stranded.
“This imbalance is not due to a lack of ability among our youths, but to rigid and exclusionary entry processes that must give way to fairness and opportunity,” the minister stated.
Under the revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Tertiary Institutions, universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) can now admit students through alternative assessment methods, provided they meet the minimum academic requirements.
For universities, candidates must have a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings, with Mathematics compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
For polytechnics (ND level), a minimum of four credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programmes is required. At the HND level, candidates must possess at least five credits, including English and Mathematics.
Dr. Alausa described the reform as “a bold and progressive step toward inclusive education,” stressing that the policy does not lower academic standards but ensures that opportunity is not lost to bureaucracy.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is about giving every Nigerian child a fair chance to learn and grow. Education should not be a privilege—it is a right,” he said.
The Ministry added that institutions would retain autonomy to design fair screening or aptitude assessments in line with national standards, while JAMB remains a valid pathway for those who wish to take that route.
With the reform, the Federal Government says it is reaffirming its commitment to inclusive, equitable, and people-centered education as a key driver of national development.
Further guidelines on how institutions will implement the new admission model are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
