‘ERRATICALITY‘ with DA-SILVA .
EDUCATION UNDER PRESSURE: JAMB’s Cut-Off Mark Reduction; Lowering the Bar or Killing the Future?
By: Da-Silva Johnson | TEC News Columnist.
Once again, Nigeria has taken the easy road — and it leads downhill. The recent decision by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to reduce university and polytechnic cut-off marks is not just a policy shift; it is a national embarrassment. A slow, dangerous erosion of our academic standards masked as “inclusiveness” or “compassion.”
But the truth is bitter: this in my opinion if you ask me is not a solution — it’s surrender.
The War on Intelligence
In a country full of brilliant, creative, and resilient youth, reducing cut-off marks is nothing short of telling them: “You’re not good enough, and we don’t expect much from you.”
We keep lowering the academic bar instead of raising the quality of education. We constantly undermine the intelligence of our own citizens as if mediocrity is now the national dream.
Why is our government not asking the hard questions?
Why are students not passing excellently?
Why are many schools still lacking chairs, qualified teachers, libraries, or even roofs?
The Real Problem Isn’t the Students — It’s the System.
Fix the schools. Make learning environments safe and conducive. Make education the cheapest service to be paid for — not one of the most expensive.
Train the trainers. Don’t just hire teachers; equip them.
Restore grants for private schools, especially those serving underserved areas at the basic education level.
Support private education as a partner in national development, not as a competitor.
Pay teachers and civil servants well and on time. Parents who are broke can’t provide the learning support their children need.
Don’t separate families. If both parents work in the education system, they shouldn’t be arbitrarily posted to different states.
And above all, eradicate cultism and other toxic social influences that have poisoned our campuses for decades.
When You Lower Standards, You Kill Motivation.
Hard work is what built the greatest minds in any nation. The moment students realize they can get into university with 140 or less, the pressure to strive and excel dies.
They stop reading.
They stop dreaming big.
They start cutting corners.
And in the end, we produce half-baked graduates who can barely write a sentence or defend their certificates.
This is not just about marks. It’s about dignity. It’s about telling a generation that excellence still matters.
WAEC Is Not the Enemy — Mismanagement Is
Passing WAEC, JAMB, or any exam with flying colours shouldn’t be impossible. But it requires a system that works:
- Affordable textbooks
- Well-equipped classrooms.
- Healthy meals for children.
- Focused teachers.
- Serious supervision.
- Technology-aided learning.
- Accountability from top to bottom.
Once these exist, passing becomes natural. The students are ready. What they need is the right environment, not pity marks.
In Conclusion
Nigeria must stop masking failure with false compassion. We should not insult our youth with low expectations. Instead of reducing marks, raise the standards of our schools.
This isn’t just about education. It’s about nation-building.
A nation that keeps lowering its standards will never rise.
Send your thoughts to:
📧 johndasilva68@gmail.com or tecnewsdesktop@gmail.com.
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