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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.

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

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa said this during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

The policy meeting, organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, sets the tone for 2026 admission exercise.

Alausa, who chaired the event, 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 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, noting 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.

However, 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 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, 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.

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

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

The minister also used the platform to restate the Federal Government’s zero tolerance for illegal admissions, warning institutions against bypassing 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 further 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, which he said is aimed at removing financial barriers to higher education.

He stressed that the reforms are anchored on transparency, accountability, and merit, noting that Nigeria’s education system must adapt to global technological and economic realities.

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

The minister commended JAMB for promoting inclusive participation for Persons Living with Disabilities through the waiver of application fees and other support measures.

He also 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 speaking at the event, Minister of State for Education, Professor 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 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.

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

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

On the age limit, he 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,” the Registrar said.

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

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

Oloyede warned that all institutions must adhere to the schedule.

He said institutions that fail to conclude admissions within the stipulated period will no longer have access to the list of candidates on the Central Admissions Processing System platform.

Speaking on the 2026 UTME results, Oloyede announced that Owoeye Danella Jesudunsin from Ekiti State, who sat for the examination in Ogun State, emerged as the highest scorer with 372 out of a possible 400.

He said Jesudunsin chose the University of Lagos 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.

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