Fed Govt Waives UTME Requirement for Colleges of Education Admissions

Students seeking admission into colleges of education for the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Under the new policy, candidates with a minimum of four Credit passes in relevant subjects can apply directly to colleges of education of their choice.

However, they must register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation (JAMB) while their credentials will be screened, verified, and processed through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) before admission letters are issued to them.

Education Minister Tunji Alausa announced this yesterday in Abuja during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The policy meeting set the tone for this year’s admission process.

Alausa, who chaired the meeting, said the policy, which takes effect from the next admission cycle, is aimed at expanding access to teacher education and addressing the persistent challenge of out-of-school adolescents.

The minister explained that the exemption would also apply to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma (ND) programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.

According to him, the move is designed to ease pressure on the UTME while encouraging greater enrolment in teacher education and agriculture, two sectors he described as critical to national development.

Alausa said the decision followed extensive consultations and was designed to widen access while maintaining standards in the education system.

The minister explained that the reform is part of broader efforts to strengthen teacher education and address manpower shortages in the sector, adding that colleges of education have significant capacity to absorb more students, particularly from local communities.

According to him, the policy aims to remove unnecessary barriers while ensuring that only qualified candidates gain admission into tertiary institutions.

“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,” he stated.

But the minister stressed that the exemption does not remove regulatory oversight, insisting that all applicants must still be registered and verified through the nation’s central admissions platform.

“Such candidates shall mandatorily register with the JAMB and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS),” he added.

At the meeting, vice chancellors of universities agreed on 150 as the minimum cut-off score for admission this year.

The meeting also adopted 150 as the minimum score for admission into colleges of nursing. 

For polytechnics, monotechnics, and allied institutions, the rectors adopted 100 as the minimum score for admission.

This means any student who scored below these scores in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will not be admitted.

Tertiary institutions are expected to adhere to the decisions reached at the policy meeting.

Alausa restated the Federal Government’s zero tolerance for illegal admissions, warning institutions against bypassing the CAPS.

“Admissions conducted outside this framework are illegal and will not be recognised,” he warned.

The minister added that erring institutions risk sanctions, including suspension of licences, where necessary.

He also reiterated that the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions remains 16 years, describing it as a policy balance between inclusivity and academic readiness.

Alausa also highlighted ongoing reforms in the education sector, including the expansion of student access through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said is aimed at removing financial barriers to higher education.

The minister said the reforms are anchored on transparency, accountability, and merit, adding that Nigeria’s education system must adapt to global technological and economic realities.

The minister praised JAMB for strengthening admissions transparency through CAPS, describing it as critical to restoring public confidence in the system.

He also hailed the board for promoting inclusive participation for Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) through the waiver of application fees and other support measures.

Alausa highlighted the Federal Government’s push for computer-based testing, digital literacy, and the integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into tertiary curricula to better prepare graduates for the modern economy.

Also, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, described the policy meeting as a key platform for ensuring fairness and accountability in admissions.

She said the introduction of the National Tertiary Admission Performance Merit Awards (NATAP-M) reflected the government’s commitment to rewarding excellence and compliance among institutions.

“As we deliberate today, I urge all stakeholders to remain guided by the principles of fairness, accountability, and national interest,” she said.

JAMB’s Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said CAPS had been used as the vehicle for all admissions since its introduction during the 2017/2018 admissions exercise. This followed a series of engagements with stakeholders.

According to him, the 2026/2027 admission will also not be an exception.

Clarifying JAMB’s position on age limit, the registrar said the 16-year minimum for entry into tertiary institutions in Nigeria is not a new creation.

“The policy thrust of pegging the minimum entry age into tertiary institutions in Nigeria is cognate with the Nigerian seminal National Policy on Education (1981). Section 7, subsection 2 thereof provides that: ‘the minimum entry age for admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges,” he said.

The meeting also agreed on the deadline for 2026/2027 admissions. For public universities, December 31, 2026, was adopted, while private universities have until November 30, 2026.

For polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education, the deadline is December 31, 2026.

Oloyede warned that all institutions must adhere to the schedule.

The registrar warned that institutions that fail to conclude admissions within the stipulated period would no longer have access to the list of candidates on the CAPS platform.

Assessing this year’s UTME results, he announced that Owoeye Danella Jesudunsin from Ekiti State, who sat for the examination in Ogun State, got the highest score of 372 out of a possible 400.

Oloyede said Jesudunsin chose the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as her first choice to study Medicine and Surgery.

The score is three points lower than last year’s top score of 375, recorded by Okeke Chinedu Christian from Anambra State.

Enwere Kinsley Ikenna from Imo State came second with 370. Ikenna, who wrote the examination in Lagos State, selected Nile University as his first choice to study Computer Science.

In third place was Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel from Ondo State with 369.

The JAMB registrar listed the Federal University of Technology, Akure, as his first choice and intends to study Software Engineering.