The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced the registration of candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in Colleges of Education and non-technological National Diploma (ND) programmes in agriculture-related disciplines without requiring them to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), marking a significant shift in Nigeria’s tertiary admission policy.
The development follows the Federal Government’s decision to exempt applicants to these programmes from the UTME as part of broader efforts to revitalise teacher education and strengthen enrolment in agriculture-related fields considered critical to national development. Education authorities believe the policy will remove barriers to admission, encourage more qualified candidates to pursue careers in teaching and agriculture, and address manpower shortages in both sectors.
Announcing the commencement of the registration exercise, JAMB, through its spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, explained that eligible applicants who possess the prescribed O’Level qualifications can now complete their admission registration at any Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) located in Colleges of Education or at any JAMB Professional Registration Centre (PRC) across the country. According to the Board, candidates seeking admission under the new arrangement are no longer required to write the UTME before being considered for admission into the affected programmes.
The policy is expected to widen access to tertiary education, particularly for students interested in becoming professional teachers or pursuing careers in agriculture. It also aligns with the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning Colleges of Education and boosting enrolment into specialised agricultural programmes that are essential for improving food security, increasing agricultural productivity and supporting economic diversification.
JAMB clarified that despite the removal of the UTME requirement, applicants must still satisfy the minimum O’Level entry requirements prescribed for their chosen programmes. The Board stressed that the exemption does not lower academic standards, noting that a structured admission process has been put in place to ensure that only suitably qualified candidates gain admission into the institutions.
The Board further disclosed that candidates who had already participated in the 2026 UTME but later decided to pursue NCE or non-technological agricultural ND programmes would not be disadvantaged. Such candidates, it explained, can convert their existing applications to the new admission category at any designated registration centre without paying additional registration fees.
The latest registration exercise is a direct implementation of the admission reforms announced earlier this year by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the 2026 National Policy Meeting on Admissions. At the meeting, the minister explained that candidates with the required O’Level credits would be eligible to apply directly for admission into Colleges of Education without writing the UTME, describing the measure as part of efforts to attract more young Nigerians into the teaching profession and strengthen the country’s education system.
Education analysts have noted that the initiative could significantly improve enrolment in Colleges of Education, many of which have experienced declining student numbers in recent years. By simplifying the admission process while maintaining entry standards, the policy is expected to expand access to teacher education, encourage greater participation in agricultural training and contribute to the production of skilled manpower needed to drive educational and agricultural transformation across Nigeria.
