JAMB Opens Registration for NCE, Agriculture ND Candidates Without UTME

JAMB Opens Registration for NCE, Agriculture ND Candidates Without UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially commenced registration for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes at Colleges of Education and non-technology National Diploma (ND) programmes in agriculture and agriculture-related fields, following the Federal Government’s directive exempting such applicants from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

In a statement issued on Thursday, JAMB’s Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, explained that qualified candidates who possess the required O’Level qualifications can now register through any Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) located in Colleges of Education or any JAMB Professional Registration Centre (PRC) across the country.

Benjamin said the registration process was introduced in line with the Federal Government’s policy aimed at widening access to teacher education and agriculture-related programmes while ensuring that admission standards remain intact.

According to him, applicants are only required to present their O’Level results at any designated registration centre to complete the admission process, as there is no longer any obligation to participate in the annual UTME for these programmes.

He encouraged eligible candidates to take advantage of the initiative by registering at approved centres nationwide.

JAMB also announced that candidates who initially sat for the 2026 UTME but later decided to pursue NCE or eligible agriculture-related ND programmes can change their application to the new admission pathway without paying any additional registration fee.

The policy follows an announcement made earlier this year by the Federal Government, which removed the UTME requirement for candidates applying to Colleges of Education.

Speaking during the 2026 Admission Policy Meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that applicants with at least four O’Level credit passes in relevant subjects would be eligible for admission into Colleges of Education without writing the UTME.

He clarified, however, that such candidates must still register with JAMB for screening, verification of credentials and admission processing through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) before admission letters can be issued.

The minister further disclosed that the exemption also applies to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agriculture and agriculture-related disciplines, noting that the move is intended to increase enrolment in these critical fields.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed reservations about the policy, cautioning that inadequate implementation could affect the quality of teacher education and professional standards within the teaching profession.