The Federal Government has announced that candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in colleges of education will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Monday during the 2026 policy meeting organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Abuja.
Under the new policy, candidates applying for NCE programmes will only need a minimum of four O-level credit passes to qualify for admission.
According to the minister, the decision is aimed at reducing the burden associated with UTME while encouraging more students to embrace the teaching profession.
“Accordingly, candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four (4) credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME,” Alausa stated.
The minister, however, clarified that prospective candidates must still register with JAMB and undergo credential verification through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) before admission letters can be issued.
“However, 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,” 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.
“In the same vein, this exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into national diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses,” the minister said.
He explained that the policy was designed to widen access to education while preserving the integrity of Nigeria’s admission system.
“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 highlighted the government’s ongoing push toward digital transformation in the education sector through the adoption of computer-based testing and integration of digital skills into academic curricula.
“The global shift towards digitalisation is not a distant prospect; it is an immediate necessity,” Alausa stated.
“Accordingly, we are advancing the full adoption of computer-based testing across national examinations, while also encouraging institutions to integrate digital competencies, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies into their curricula.”
According to him, the reforms are aimed at ensuring Nigerian graduates acquire both theoretical knowledge and practical skills required in a modern economy.
“The objective is clear: our graduates must not only possess theoretical knowledge but also the practical skills required to thrive in a modern economy,” the minister added.
