The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled major changes to how students gain entry into higher institutions, among them is a provision that allows certain applicants to bypass the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination when seeking admission into specific programmes such as the National Certificate in Education programmes (NCE) and some agriculture-related courses.

The reforms were unveiled during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Abuja, where education stakeholders reviewed new measures aimed at expanding access to higher education while tightening admission regulations.

Under the new policy, candidates applying for the Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes in Colleges of Education will no longer be required to write the UTME, provided they possess at least four credit passes in relevant subjects. The waiver also extends to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the decision was part of broader efforts to strengthen teacher education and boost enrolment in critical sectors such as agriculture.

According to him, many Colleges of Education have the capacity to admit more students, especially from surrounding communities, but continue to operate below capacity due to barriers created by UTME requirements.

2027 JAMBITES: If you want to pass the Upcoming JAMB exam with flying colors, practice with ExamGuide UTME Learning App. Download the app from https://www.examguide.com/offline/products/utme

Alausa, however, clarified that although affected candidates would not sit for UTME, they must still register with JAMB for screening, verification, and processing through the Central Admissions Processing System before admission letters can be issued.

The minister noted that the reforms were designed to widen access to tertiary education while preserving the integrity of the admission process.

As part of the resolutions reached at the policy meeting, JAMB also retained 150 as the minimum admissible score for university admissions for the 2026 academic session, while polytechnics and Colleges of Education will admit candidates with a minimum score of 100.

You can also step up your JAMB preparation with ExamGuide UTME app, a trusted tool for UTME exam success. Join thousands of successful students and turn your UTME dream score into reality – download ExamGuide UTME Learning App now and start your journey to academic excellence

The board further warned institutions against illegal admissions conducted outside the CAPS platform, stressing that admissions not processed through JAMB remain invalid.

Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the policy shift. While some stakeholders described the waiver as a move that could improve access to teacher education and agricultural training, the Nigeria Union of Teachers expressed concerns that scrapping UTME requirements for NCE admissions could lower standards in the teaching profession.

The union’s National President, Audu Amba, warned that the policy may discourage academic competitiveness among prospective teachers if not properly managed.