JAMB fixes May 11 policy meeting to set 2026 UTME cut-off marks

The process for the 2026/2027 tertiary admissions cycle is set to begin in earnest as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has fixed May 11 for its annual policy meeting, where minimum cut-off marks for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination will be decided.

The development, disclosed in a statement by JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, signals the start of critical decisions that will shape admission processes across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide.

According to the statement, the meeting will take place at the Body of Benchers Auditorium, located within the Institute and Research District in Jabi, Abuja, and will bring together key stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector.

It is expected that the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, will outline major policy directions guiding the upcoming admission exercise.

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“The Board’s annual policy meeting on admissions is a crucial annual gathering where stakeholders decide minimum tolerable UTME marks, admission guidelines, and policies for tertiary institutions.

“Furthermore, the meeting is expected to, in particular, formally set the tone for the 2026/2027 admission exercise while impressing it on attendees the need to adhere strictly to stipulated guidelines.

“Attendees at the 2026 meeting would include critical stakeholders such as vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, registrars and their admission officers.

Others are regulatory bodies ranging from the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), among others.”

The gathering is also expected to attract goodwill messages from major agencies within the education ecosystem, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the National Youth Service Corps, alongside other stakeholders.

In addition to policy deliberations, the event will feature the sixth edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M), aimed at encouraging strict compliance with admission regulations and improving standards across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

With stakeholders set to converge, the outcome of the meeting is expected to provide clarity on admission benchmarks and reinforce guidelines that will govern placements into higher institutions for the 2026/2027 academic session.