The Federal Government has announced that candidates seeking admission into education programmes and agriculture-related non-engineering courses in tertiary institutions will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), in what officials described as a major policy shift aimed at expanding access to critical sectors of the nation’s education system.
The announcement was made on Monday during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, unveiled new reforms expected to shape the 2026/2027 admission exercise.
According to the minister, candidates applying for National Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes with a minimum of four credit passes will now be eligible for admission consideration without sitting for UTME. He, however, stressed that such applicants must still register with JAMB for screening, verification, and processing through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
“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,” Alausa said while addressing stakeholders at the policy meeting. He added that affected candidates “must register with JAMB, and their credentials will be screened, verified, and processed through CAPS in line with existing regulations.”
JAMB also confirmed the development in a statement shared on its official X account, noting that the exemption extends to candidates seeking admission into agriculture non-engineering courses. The board stated that the measure is part of ongoing efforts to encourage enrolment in teacher education and agricultural disciplines considered vital to national development and food security.
The annual JAMB policy meeting traditionally brings together vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, registrars, admission officers, and regulatory agencies to determine admission guidelines and minimum cut-off marks for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.
