New curriculum makes PhD mandatory for lecturers, abolished pass degree

The newly adopted Benchmark Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS) for Nigerian universities has made it mandatory for all lecturers in the nation's university system to have PhD degree.

Director of Academic Standard of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Bello Kumo, who disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, said the BMAS (curriculum) for undergraduates programmes has finally abolished the award of pass degree in universities.

According to Kumo, the pass mark in university's examination has also been jacked up from 40 to 45 marks but added that 70 remains distinction mark.

While stating that the new BMAS has phased out the one introduced in 1989, the Director said the new curriculum also give emphasis to new areas of academic studies, such as entrepreneurship, French language and Arabic.

Speaking during the launch of the BMAS, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, expressed the commitment of the present administration to enthrone quality education in the country.

The minister, who also used the opportunity to monitor activities at the  Nigerian Education and Research Network (NgREN) center, directed all universities in the country to key into the research network to enhance better collaboration among universities.

In a remark, the Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, said with NgREN, Nigerian universities would be able to share intellectual resources and research materials with just a click of a button.