JAMB Sets 320 UTME Benchmark for Under-16 Candidates Seeking Varsity Admission

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates under the age of 16 may be considered for admission into tertiary institutions if they achieve an exceptional score of at least 320 out of 400 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This policy follows the recent reversal of the mandatory 18-year admission age benchmark introduced by former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman. The current Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, reinstated the previous benchmark of 16 years, a decision that has received widespread support from education stakeholders.

During a meeting with key stakeholders, including Chief External Examiners, Chief Technical Advisors, and members of the Equal Opportunity Group, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, clarified that while the 16-year age requirement remains the standard, exceptional candidates below this age could be granted admission under strict conditions. He explained that biological age is closely linked to intellectual growth and academic maturity, and while rules exist, there must be flexibility for truly gifted students.

A transcript of the meeting published in JAMB’s bulletin quoted Oloyede as saying that exceptional students must demonstrate outstanding academic ability across multiple assessments, including the UTME, WASSCE, Post-UTME, and GCE O/Level. He argued that a candidate scoring 200 out of 400 in the UTME could not be considered exceptional, but an 80% score of 320 or above would be a valid indication of outstanding ability.

Oloyede also raised concerns about private universities admitting underage students, noting that many of them struggle academically and that up to 80% are later transferred to other programs due to poor performance. He condemned the practice of parents falsifying birth records to secure early admission for their wards, only to later attempt to alter their ages for eligibility in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.

In a related development, JAMB has introduced a mock UTME for underage candidates. Speaking in Lagos, Oloyede clarified that this mock exam is not for direct admission but rather to help younger candidates assess their academic capabilities. He confirmed that the sale of UTME forms began on January 31 and will continue until March 5, with a mock exam scheduled for February 23 and the main UTME set to take place on March 8.