The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced registration for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes and non-technological National Diploma (ND) programmes in agriculture-related fields without requiring them to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The announcement was made on Thursday in a statement by JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.
According to the board, the registration follows the Federal Government’s policy exempting candidates applying for NCE programmes in Colleges of Education and non-technology agricultural ND programmes from writing the UTME.
Registration Process
JAMB explained that eligible candidates who possess the required O’Level qualifications can register by visiting any Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) located in Colleges of Education or any JAMB Professional Registration Centre (PRC) nationwide.
Candidates are only required to present their O’Level results to complete the registration process, as there is no obligation to participate in the annual UTME.
The board stated that it has established an admission process that will ensure only qualified candidates are admitted while maintaining the quality and credibility of the affected programmes.
Opportunity for 2026 UTME Candidates
JAMB also announced that candidates who already participated in the 2026 UTME but later decide to pursue an NCE or eligible agricultural ND programme can convert their applications at any designated registration centre without paying additional charges.
The board encouraged all qualified candidates to take advantage of the policy to pursue careers in teacher education and agriculture.
Policy Aims to Increase Enrolment
According to JAMB, the initiative is intended to expand access to Colleges of Education and agriculture-related programmes while preserving academic standards.
The policy follows an announcement made by the Federal Government in May 2026.
At the 2026 admission policy meeting held in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed that candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education would no longer be required to write the UTME.
He explained that applicants with at least four credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects can apply directly for admission.
However, prospective students must still register with JAMB to enable the board conduct the necessary screening, verification, and certification of their credentials before admission letters are issued through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
The minister also confirmed that the exemption applies to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technological agriculture and agriculture-related disciplines, describing the move as part of government efforts to increase enrolment in these priority fields.
Mixed Reactions
While the policy is expected to improve access to teacher education and agricultural programmes, it has attracted criticism from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
The union expressed concerns that poor implementation could undermine the quality of teacher education and weaken professional standards within the teaching profession.
Despite the concerns, the Federal Government maintains that the new admission policy is designed to widen educational opportunities while ensuring that quality assurance mechanisms remain in place through JAMB’s centralized admission and verification process.
