RE-EVALUATING CUT-OFF MARKS IN NIGERIAN HIGHER EDUCATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR TEACHER EDUCATION AND CLASSROOM QUALITY

Abstract

This paper looks at the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board's (JAMB) recent publication of cutoff grades for admission to Nigerian universities, monotechnics, polytechnics, and colleges of education. The cutoff points for university admissions in 2022/2023 were established at 140 out of 400 (35.0%) and 100 out of 400 (25.0%) for polytechnics and colleges of education. This decision has sparked outrage among educational stakeholders and the general public, particularly because of the perceived low cutoff mark for prospective teachers. This raises concerns regarding the caliber of teachers who will engage in the teacher development program. Given the importance of education to national development, the research aims to investigate the varied character of this issue, examine its ramifications, and make recommendations to improve teacher education in Nigeria. The purpose is to populate classrooms with competent and highly qualified teachers, hence fostering educational growth and advancement.