JAMB Introduces320 UTME Score Benchmark for Under-16 Candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that outstanding candidates below the age of 16 can be considered for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions if they achieve a minimum score of 320 (80%) in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

This policy follows the reversal of the mandatory 18-year admission age introduced by former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman. The current Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, has reinstated the 16-year age requirement, a decision widely supported by education stakeholders.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, reaffirmed that while 16 remains the standard minimum age for admission, exceptional candidates under 16 may be granted entry under strict conditions. He made this known during a meeting with key education stakeholders, including Chief External Examiners, Chief Technical Advisors, and members of the Equal Opportunity Group.

“This is about complying with the law. Age is a crucial factor in academic and intellectual development. However, we must also recognize and accommodate gifted students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability,” Oloyede stated.

He emphasized that candidates under 16 must prove their excellence through multiple assessments, including UTME, WASSCE, Post-UTME, and GCE O/Level. According to him, a score of 200 in UTME does not qualify as exceptional, but an 80% score (320/400) is a strong indicator of outstanding ability.

Oloyede also expressed concerns about private universities admitting underage students, noting that many struggle academically and are eventually transferred to other programs. He further condemned the manipulation of birth records by parents seeking early admission for their children, only to later adjust their ages for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program.

To address these challenges, JAMB has introduced a mock UTME specifically for underage candidates. However, this mock exam is not for direct admission purposes but rather to assess the capabilities of younger students.

The JAMB Registrar also confirmed the upcoming UTME schedule:

• Form Sales: January 31 – March 5
• Mock UTME: February 23
• Main UTME: March 8

This initiative aims to ensure that only truly exceptional students under 16 are granted admission while maintaining academic integrity within Nigeria’s tertiary education system.