Anambra, Imo, Enugu top unity schools’ 2026/2027 quota-based cut-off marks

For many parents and pupils in Nigeria’s South-East, gaining admission into federal unity colleges may become even more competitive following the release of the 2026/2027 quota-based cut-off marks.

Candidates from Anambra, Imo, and Enugu are now expected to score significantly higher marks than their counterparts in several other states, highlighting the continuing debate over fairness, merit, and equal access in Nigeria’s admission system at federal government secondary schools.

In the newly released admission benchmarks, students from Anambra State are required to score 139, Imo State students must score 138, and Enugu State 134 to gain admission into the federal government schools.

Students from Abia State are to score 130, while Ebonyi State candidates are expected to score 112. In the Southwestern States, candidates from Lagos have a cut-off mark of 133, Ogun State 131, Osun State 127, and Ondo State 126, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the Northern region, states such as Yobe, a male student with 2 and a female student with 27 marks, respectively, can get admission in any unity school in Nigeria.

Similarly, a male child from Taraba State with 3 and a female with 11 marks, respectively, are deemed qualified for admission, and in Sokoto State, a male student with 9 marks can also get admission, while the female is expected to score 13 marks.

In the South-south region, Edo State candidates must score 127, Akwa Ibom State 123, Rivers State 118, and Cross River State 97.

This so-called quota system highlights significant disparities among Nigerian children from different states, with candidates from some states required to score considerably higher than their counterparts in some other parts of the country to secure placement into the prestigious secondary schools.

The development has once again sparked conversations about fairness and merit in the nation’s education policy.

Isaiah Ogundele, an administrator, describes the quota system as part of the vices spoiling the present and future of Nigeria.

“This is a yardstick put in place for the so-called educational disadvantage states.

“Where is it done on earth, a group of learners would write the same examination in the same country under the same ministry, but the cut-off marks are varied?” he asked.

Ogundele emphasised that the system is very endemic because it is creating lots of problems, such as a knowledge gap, and that it is depriving the qualified learners of the opportunity to further their education seamlessly.

“Because of the quota system, the qualified students will not have the opportunity, whereas their counterparts in another state, called disadvantage state, will gain admission. ‘What an evil’

“This will drag Nigeria’s development backward because the same half-baked learners would graduate and also enter the public service with their so-called certificates. At the end, you’re going to have a round peg in a round hole,” he noted.

Stanley Alaubi, a senior lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, frowned at the system, which, according to him, is geared toward encouraging mediocrity.

“Why would some candidates from certain states be given preferred treatment by issuing such ridiculous cut-off marks to them when all the schools in the country are using the same curriculum, and the students are meant to work in the same labour market?

“This is destroying our education system, and it is very dangerous. It is pointing out the rot in the country’s government,” he stated.

“This is very unfortunate and worrisome. Imo State has 138 more than others. And some others are below 120, 90, 67, 80 marks.

“Which country on earth does this type of grading? Nigeria is never one country but different nations. This is a typical example; even school scores are different,” he stated.

Stakeholders believe that the interplay between lower expectations, as evidenced in the quota-based cut-off marks for unity schools, and the systemic educational decay paints a troubling picture of the country’s academic future.

“Nigeria’s education standard has been in the doldrums for decades, and the decline is reflected in the failure rate at WASSCE and other examinations,” they say.

The wide gap in unity schools’ quota-based cut-off marks continues to raise concerns about fairness, equal opportunity, and national integration in Nigeria’s education system.

While the policy was designed to promote inclusion across all states, many stakeholders believe it should be reviewed to ensure that merit, access, and educational balance are properly maintained.

Industry experts advocate increased investment in basic education across disadvantaged states, improved learning facilities nationwide, and a gradual reform of the quota system to reduce disparities.