The Federal Government has removed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination requirement for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes, a decision announced at JAMB’s 2026 Policy Meeting in Abuja on Monday by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
The policy change means that from this admission cycle, NCE hopefuls will qualify for consideration with a minimum of four O level credit passes in their school certificate, without sitting the UTME. The exemption also covers candidates applying for national diploma programmes in non technology agricultural and agriculture related courses.
For candidates who have been put off by the UTME process, the announcement represents a direct removal of one of the biggest barriers to entering teacher education in Nigeria.
“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 told stakeholders at the meeting.
Importantly, the exemption does not mean JAMB steps out of the process. All affected candidates must still register with the board, and their credentials will be screened, verified and certified before admission letters are issued through the Central Admissions Processing System.
“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 stated.
Alausa framed the decision as a carefully considered balance between accessibility and integrity. “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,” he noted.
The minister also signalled a broader direction for Nigerian education, calling for full adoption of computer based testing across national examinations and urging institutions to embed artificial intelligence and digital competencies into their curricula.
“The global shift towards digitalisation is not a distant prospect; it is an immediate necessity. Our graduates must not only possess theoretical knowledge but also the practical skills required to thrive in a modern economy,” he declared.
For NCE and agriculture candidates, the next step is to register with JAMB and await further admission guidelines through the CAPS portal.
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