The Federal Government has announced that candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes will no longer be required to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The policy was disclosed on Monday by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, during the 2026 JAMB policy meeting held in Abuja.
Under the new admission framework, applicants seeking entry into colleges of education for NCE programmes will only need a minimum of four credit passes in relevant O-level subjects to qualify for admission.
The government said the decision forms part of broader efforts to simplify the admission process into teacher-training institutions and encourage more students to pursue careers in education.
According to Alausa, the removal of the UTME requirement is also intended to reduce the operational and administrative workload currently handled by JAMB.
The minister explained that the new approach would make access to NCE programmes easier while allowing the examination body to focus more on admissions into universities, polytechnics, and other tertiary institutions where UTME remains compulsory.
Education stakeholders at the meeting were informed that the policy is expected to strengthen enrolment in colleges of education, many of which have experienced declining student numbers in recent years.
The Nigeria Certificate in Education remains the minimum qualification for teaching at the basic education level in Nigeria, making colleges of education critical to the country’s teacher development system.
The announcement comes amid ongoing reforms in the education sector aimed at improving access, streamlining admission procedures, and addressing challenges affecting tertiary education in the country.
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