WHOEVER worked out the 2013/14 cut off marks for admission to federal government colleges is cutting off the North from developing its capacities. It is a practical indication of ordained backwardness for a part of Nigeria – it should not be allowed, for the dangers it portends for the whole country.
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It is bad if some children from the South, more qualified than their compatriots from the North, are not admitted because they are too brilliant. It is worse that the children from the North are being treated as second class pupils, whose only right to places in schools is their origin.
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According to Section 15 (2) of the Constitution, "National integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, intercourse, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited". The cut off marks are over the bars for discrimination.
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Some pupils would be admitted with two marks while their mates require 139 marks.