By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board 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 decision was unveiled on Monday during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja.
In a statement shared on its official X handle, JAMB confirms that candidates applying for Education programmes and agriculture-related non-engineering courses are now exempt from the UTME requirement.
Speaking at the policy meeting, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, explained that candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes with a minimum of four credit passes would no longer need to write the UTME.
“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,” the minister stated.
He, however, clarified that affected candidates must still register with JAMB for documentation and admission processing through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
“Such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS,” he added.
Alausa further disclosed that the exemption would also apply to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.
According to him, the policy is aimed at expanding access to tertiary education while preserving the integrity of the admission process.
“This approach strikes a balance between widening access and maintaining standards. It will reduce the pressure associated with UTME and encourage more students to pursue teacher education and agriculture-related programmes, which are critical to national development,” he said.
The development marks a major shift in Nigeria’s tertiary admission system, where the UTME has traditionally served as the standard entrance examination for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.
The annual JAMB policy meeting determines admission guidelines, including cut-off marks and admission procedures for tertiary institutions nationwide.
