JAMB Opens Admission Without UTME For NCE And Agriculture Programmes

(JAMB. Photo by Guardian Nigerian News)

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has started accepting applications for admission to non-technological National Diploma programs in agriculture-related courses as well as Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programs at Colleges of Education.

Such candidates will not be obliged to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), according to a statement released on Thursday by JAMB's spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin.

Benjamin clarified that qualified applicants with the necessary O'Level credits can register at any JAMB Professional Registration Center across the country or at any Institutional Professional Registration Center found within educational institutions.

According to him, the registration followed the Federal Government's decision to exempt candidates seeking admission into NCE and non-technological agricultural programmes from writing the UTME.

He noted that JAMB has established an admission process to ensure only qualified candidates are admitted while maintaining the quality and standards of the affected programmes.

He explained that under the policy, eligible candidates only need to visit any designated registration centre with their O'Level credentials to complete their registration, without any requirement to sit the annual UTME.

He therefore urged eligible candidates to take advantage of the opportunity by registering at the designated centres nationwide.

Benjamin further disclosed that candidates who had already sat the 2026 UTME but later opted to pursue NCE or non-technological agricultural programmes could convert their applications at any designated registration centre at no additional cost.

He noted that the policy was aimed at expanding access to teacher education and agriculture-related programmes while preserving academic standards.

In May, the Federal Government had announced that candidates seeking admission into colleges of education would no longer be required to sit the UTME.

Speaking at the 2026 admission policy meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, explained that candidates with at least four credit passes in relevant subjects could apply for admission into colleges of education without taking the examination.

Though they would still be required to register with JAMB for screening, verification and certification of their credentials before admission letters are issued through the Central Admissions Processing System.

The minister also extended the exemption to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses, stating that the policy was designed to boost enrolment in the affected programmes.

However, the Nigeria Union of Teachers has opposed the policy, warning that poor implementation could weaken the quality of teacher education and professionalism within the teaching profession.