By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and Agriculture-related non-engineering courses in Colleges of Education and Polytechnics will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The announcement was made during the ongoing 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Abuja and was also shared on JAMB’s official X handle on Monday.
According to the board, the new policy affects candidates applying for National Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes as well as National Diploma (ND) courses in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related fields.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, explained that candidates seeking admission into NCE programmes with a minimum of four credit passes would be exempted from writing the UTME.
He, however, clarified that such candidates must still register with JAMB for proper screening and admission processing.
“Candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME,” Alausa said.
“However, it is imperative to emphasise that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS, in accordance with extant regulations.”
The minister added that the exemption would also apply to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.
He noted that the policy is designed to widen access to tertiary education while preserving the integrity of the admission system.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system,” he stated.
“It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programmes, both of which are critical to national development.”
The development marks a major shift in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, where UTME has traditionally served as the standard entrance examination for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The annual JAMB policy meeting is held to determine admission guidelines for tertiary institutions, including cut-off marks and admission procedures for the new academic session.
