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.
The announcement was made on Monday through a post shared on JAMB’s official X handle during its ongoing 2026 policy meeting on admissions.
According to the board, “Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME.”
Speaking at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, explained that candidates applying for National Certificate in Education programmes with a minimum of four credit passes would no longer need to take the UTME before gaining admission.
He stated, “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, however, clarified that affected candidates must still register with JAMB for proper documentation and admission processing.
“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,” he added.
Alausa further disclosed that the exemption also covers candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.
According to him, the policy is designed to widen access to tertiary education while maintaining the integrity of the admission process.
“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,” the minister said.
The development marks a major shift in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, as UTME has traditionally been the standard entrance examination for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
The annual policy meeting organised by JAMB is expected to also determine the 2026 UTME cut-off marks and other admission guidelines for tertiary institutions across the country.
ADEYEMI ELIJAH
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