By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) 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 disclosed 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 confirmed that candidates applying for Education and Agriculture-related non-engineering programmes are now exempted from the UTME requirement.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, explained that candidates seeking admission into the National Certificate in Education (NCE) programme with a minimum of four credit passes will no longer need to write the UTME.
However, he clarified that all affected candidates must still register with JAMB for documentation and admission processing through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
He added that their credentials will be screened, verified, and certified before admission letters are issued through CAPS.
Alausa also stated that the exemption extends to candidates applying for National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and related courses.
According to him, the policy is aimed at widening access to tertiary education while maintaining academic standards and reducing pressure associated with the UTME.
The annual JAMB policy meeting sets admission guidelines, including cut-off marks and procedures for tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
