JAMB Begins Registration for NCE, Agricultural ND Applicants Without UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has commenced registration for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes in Colleges of Education and non-technological National Diploma programmes in agriculture-related courses.

According to a statement released on Thursday by its spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, JAMB said such applicants are not required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Benjamin said eligible candidates who possess the required O’Level credits can register at any Institutional Professional Registration Centre located in colleges of education or any JAMB Professional Registration Centre nationwide.

He explained that the registration followed the Federal Government’s decision to exempt candidates seeking admission into NCE and non-technological agricultural programmes from writing the UTME.

According to him, JAMB has put in place an admission process to ensure that only qualified candidates are admitted while maintaining the quality and standards of the programmes.

“Under this policy, eligible candidates only need to visit any designated IPRC or JAMB PRC with their O’Level credentials to complete their registration. There is no requirement to sit for the annual UTME,” Benjamin said.

He urged eligible candidates to take advantage of the opportunity by registering at the designated centres across the country.

Benjamin also said candidates who sat the 2026 UTME but later decided to pursue NCE or non-technological agricultural programmes could convert their applications at any designated registration centre at no additional cost.

He noted that the policy was aimed at expanding access to teacher education and agriculture-related programmes while preserving academic standards.

In May, the Federal Government announced that candidates seeking admission into colleges of education would no longer be required to sit the UTME.

Speaking at the 2026 admission policy meeting in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said candidates with at least four credit passes in relevant subjects could apply for admission into colleges of education without taking the UTME.

He explained that such candidates would still be required to register with JAMB for the screening, verification and certification of their credentials before admission letters are issued through the Central Admissions Processing System.

The minister also extended the exemption to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses, saying the policy was designed to boost enrolment in the affected programmes.

However, the Nigeria Union of Teachers opposed the policy, warning that poor implementation could weaken the quality of teacher education and professionalism in the teaching profession.

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