The Federal Government has commenced nationwide admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in Colleges of Education and non-technological agricultural programmes in polytechnics without requiring candidates to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The initiative, implemented through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is designed to expand access to teacher education and agriculture while maintaining admission standards.
In a statement issued on Thursday, JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr Fabian Benjamin, said eligible candidates should register at any Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) in Colleges of Education or any JAMB Professional Registration Centre (PRC) nationwide.
He explained that only candidates with the required O’Level qualifications would qualify for admission under the new arrangement.
Benjamin said JAMB had established a screening process to ensure that only qualified candidates are admitted despite the removal of the UTME requirement. Under the policy, applicants only need to present their O’Level results at designated registration centres to complete the admission process.
He added that candidates who sat for the 2026 UTME but later decided to pursue NCE or non-technological agricultural programmes can convert their applications free of charge at any IPRC or JAMB PRC.
JAMB urged eligible candidates to take advantage of the opportunity by registering promptly, noting that the policy is expected to increase enrolment in Colleges of Education and agricultural programmes, helping to address the shortage of qualified teachers and strengthen Nigeria’s agricultural workforce.