JAMB Exempts Education, Agriculture Candidates From UTME in Major Admission Policy Shift
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates applying for Education programmes and non-engineering Agriculture-related courses in Colleges of Education and Polytechnics will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a major change to Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, exempting candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and Agriculture-related non-engineering courses from sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The announcement was made during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja and was later confirmed in a statement shared on JAMB’s official X handle.
According to the board, the new policy will apply to candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes as well as selected National Diploma (ND) courses in agriculture and related fields.
Four Credits Now Enough for NCE Admission
Speaking at the policy meeting, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, explained that candidates who possess a minimum of four credit passes would no longer be required to write the UTME before gaining admission into NCE programmes.He stated that while the UTME requirement has been removed, candidates must still register with JAMB for proper documentation and admission processing.
According to the minister, candidates’ credentials will still undergo screening, verification, and certification through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) before admission letters are issued.
Agriculture Courses Also Included
The exemption will also cover candidates applying for National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses in polytechnics.
Alausa noted that the move is designed to improve access to tertiary education while maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s admission system.
He explained that the policy would help reduce the pressure associated with UTME examinations while encouraging more students to pursue careers in teaching and agriculture, The Development marks one of the most notable changes to Nigeria’s higher education admission process in recent yearsTraditionally, the UTME has served as the standard entrance examination for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.Every year, JAMB’s policy meeting determines admission guidelines, cut-off marks, and procedures for tertiary institutions nationwide.With this latest adjustment, candidates interested in Education and Agriculture-related courses may now gain admission through alternative pathways based on their academic qualifications and institutional screening processes.
Why the Policy Matters
Education and Agriculture courses have historically attracted fewer applicants and lower cut-off marks compared to highly competitive courses such as Medicine, Law, and Engineering. Stakeholders believe the exemption could help boost enrollment in these fields, especially at a time when Nigeria faces shortages in qualified teachers and seeks to strengthen food security and agricultural development.
The policy is also expected to ease examination pressure on thousands of candidates who may now pursue certain tertiary programmes without sitting for the UTME.
As implementation begins, institutions and prospective students are expected to await further admission guidelines from JAMB regarding registration procedure and screening requirements.
