By Damilare Adeleye
The Federal Government has announced that candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in colleges of education will no longer be required to take Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced this on Monday during JAMB’s 2026 policy meeting in Abuja, saying that prospective students will only need a minimum of four O-level credits in school certificate to qualify for admission.
According to the minister, the policy, which will take effect from next year, is designed to ease the administrative burden on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)
He added that candidates with a minimum of four credit passes in relevant subjects would now be eligible to apply for admission into Colleges of Education without sitting for the examination.
Meanwhile, the minister explained that affected candidates would still be required to register with JAMB for documentation and admission processing.
He further disclosed that candidates’ credentials would undergo screening, verification and certification before admission letters are issued through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
“Accordingly, candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four (4) credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME,” the minister 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.”
“In the same vein, this exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into national diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses,” the minister said.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system. 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.”
In addition, the government also set 150 as minimum admission cut off mark for for both private and public universities as well as colleges of nursing across the country.