JAMB Exempts Education, Agriculture Candidates From UTME Requirement

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced a major change to Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, stating that candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and certain Agriculture-related courses in colleges of education and polytechnics will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The decision was disclosed on Monday during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja.

According to JAMB, the exemption applies specifically to candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education programmes and Agriculture-related non-engineering courses offered by colleges of education and polytechnics.

The board made the announcement through a statement shared on its official X account, describing the move as part of efforts to widen access to critical sectors of the education system.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa explained that candidates applying for NCE programmes who possess at least four credit passes would no longer need to sit for the UTME before gaining admission.

The minister, however, clarified that such applicants must still register with JAMB for documentation and verification purposes.

According to him, all candidates benefiting from the exemption would still undergo screening through JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System to ensure compliance with existing admission regulations.

“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,” Alausa stated during the policy meeting.

Education stakeholders say the policy represents one of the most significant admission reforms in recent years and could help address declining interest in teacher training institutions across the country.

For years, colleges of education have struggled with low enrolment despite persistent shortages of qualified teachers in many Nigerian schools.

Analysts believe the removal of UTME requirements may encourage more candidates to consider careers in teaching and agricultural studies, sectors regarded as critical to national development.

The Federal Government has repeatedly expressed concern about the shortage of professionally trained teachers, particularly in rural communities, as well as the need to strengthen agricultural education to improve food security and economic diversification.

The latest reform also aligns with broader efforts by the Ministry of Education to reduce barriers to tertiary education and make admission processes more flexible.

Although UTME remains compulsory for admission into universities and several competitive programmes, policymakers have increasingly debated whether the examination should remain mandatory for all categories of tertiary education.

The 2026 policy meeting brought together heads of tertiary institutions, regulators and education stakeholders to discuss admission guidelines, cut-off marks and reforms affecting Nigeria’s higher education sector.

JAMB officials said the exemption policy would still maintain accountability because all admissions must pass through the CAPS platform, which was introduced to improve transparency and reduce irregular admissions.

The development is expected to particularly benefit students from disadvantaged backgrounds who may struggle with the financial and logistical demands associated with writing the UTME annually.

Education experts say the success of the policy will depend largely on effective implementation and whether institutions maintain quality standards while expanding access.