The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has opened registration for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes and non-technological National Diploma courses in agriculture-related fields without requiring the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Registration Process and Eligibility
JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin confirmed that eligible candidates holding the required O'Level credits can walk into any Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) in a college of education or any JAMB Professional Registration Centre (PRC) across the country to complete their registration. "Under this policy, eligible candidates only need to visit any designated IPRC or JAMB PRC with their O'Level credentials to complete their registration. There is no requirement to sit for the annual UTME," Benjamin stated.
Candidates who already sat the 2026 UTME but later chose to pursue NCE or non-technological agricultural programmes can convert their applications at any of the designated centres at no extra cost.
Background to the Exemption Policy
The exemption was announced in May by Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa at the 2026 admission policy meeting in Abuja. He stated that candidates with at least four credit passes in relevant subjects could apply to colleges of education without taking the UTME, though they would still need to register with JAMB for screening, verification and credential certification before admission letters are issued through the Central Admissions Processing System.
Alausa extended the same exemption to candidates applying for National Diploma programmes in non-technological agricultural courses, describing the move as a deliberate effort to grow enrolment in those fields. Benjamin echoed that position, saying JAMB has put an admission process in place to ensure only qualified candidates gain entry while maintaining the standards of the affected programmes.
Concerns from the Nigeria Union of Teachers
However, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) opposed the policy, warning that poor implementation could weaken the quality of teacher education and erode professionalism in the teaching workforce. The union raised concerns about potential declines in educational standards if the exemption is not properly managed.
