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 announced on Monday during the board’s ongoing 2026 policy meeting on admissions held in Abuja.
In a statement shared on its official X handle, JAMB said, “Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME.”
Speaking at the meeting, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, explained that candidates applying for the National Certificate in Education (NCE) programme would no longer be required to sit for the UTME, provided they possess the minimum entry qualifications.
“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 said.
Alausa, however, clarified that the exemption does not eliminate the requirement for candidates to register with JAMB before their admissions can be processed.
“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 stated.
The minister further disclosed that the exemption would also apply to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in agriculture-related courses outside engineering and technology disciplines.
“This exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses,” he added.
According to him, the policy was introduced to widen access to tertiary education while maintaining the credibility of Nigeria’s 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,” he said.
The development marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s tertiary admission system, where the UTME has traditionally served as the major qualifying examination for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
JAMB’s annual policy meeting determines admission guidelines for tertiary institutions nationwide, including cut-off marks and other procedures for the new academic session.
The latest policy is expected to create alternative admission pathways for candidates pursuing Education and agriculture-related programmes through institutional screening and credential verification instead of the conventional UTME process.
Education and agriculture-related courses have historically attracted lower admission competition and cut-off marks when compared with highly sought-after programmes such as Medicine, Law and Engineering.
Earlier on Monday, reports indicated that JAMB was expected to announce the 2026 UTME cut-off marks during the policy meeting.
