EVALUATION OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ADMISSIONS POLICY: ASTUDY OF JAMB CUT-OFF POINTS AND MERIT-BASED ADMISSIONS INFEDERAL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NORTH WEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated the impact of various admission policies on students’ registration in Federal Colleges of
Education in the North-West Zone of Nigeria. The study had two objectives among which are; to investigate the
Implementation of admissions policies of JAMB Cut-off points on Students’ Admission in Federal Colleges of
Education and Examine the Implementation of Admission Policy on Merit-Based on Students Registration in
Federal Colleges of Education in North-West Zone, Nigeria; In line with the study 2 research questions and
hypotheses were raised. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised all relevant
stakeholders in the selected colleges, with a total of 378 questionnaires distributed and 360 returned. Data were
collected using the Impact of Admission Policies on Students’ Registration Questionnaire (IAPSRQ). Descriptive
statistics of frequency and mean were used to answer the research questions, while inferential statistics of ANOVA
were used to test the hypotheses. The JAMB Cut-Off Points admission policy updated admissions and promoted
merit-based registration and stakeholders shared similar perceptions regarding its impact (P-Value = 0.162). The
Merit-Based on Students Admission Policy enhanced merit-based access and equitable distribution of admission
spaces; the differences in opinions among Management Staff, Deans, HODs, Lecturers, and Students were not
statistically significant (P-Value = 0.158). The study concluded that the implementation of the JAMB Cut-Off
Points admission policy plays a crucial role in streamlining admissions, ensuring that Merit-Based on Students
registration is prioritized, which stakeholders widely acknowledge. The study recommended among others that
Management, parents, and students should be adequately sensitized on the JAMB Cut-off Points policy to ensure
proper compliance and understanding. Colleges should organize regular orientation sessions and publish clear
guidelines to ensure that eligible students are informed and able to meet admission requirements. Staff training
and regular monitoring are recommended to avoid arbitrary admissions and ensure transparent coordination of
admissions processes.