JAMB Begins Registration for NCE, Agricultural ND Applicants Without UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has opened registration for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in Colleges of Education, as well as non-technological National Diploma programmes in agriculture-related courses, without requiring them to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). In a statement issued on Thursday, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin said eligible candidates with the required O'Level credits can register at any Institutional Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) located within colleges of education, or at any JAMB Professional Registration Centre (PRC) nationwide. He explained that the move follows a Federal Government decision exempting candidates applying for NCE and non-technological agricultural programmes from the UTME requirement. "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, urging qualifying candidates to take advantage of the arrangement at designated centres across the country. Benjamin added that candidates who had already sat the 2026 UTME but later opted to pursue NCE or non-technological agricultural courses can convert their applications at any designated centre at no extra cost. He said the policy is intended to widen access to teacher education and agriculture-related programmes while still maintaining academic standards, noting that JAMB has built in an admission process to ensure only qualified candidates are admitted. The exemption was first announced in May, when Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa revealed at the 2026 admission policy meeting in Abuja that candidates with at least four relevant credit passes could apply to colleges of education without sitting the UTME. Alausa clarified that such candidates would still need to register with JAMB for screening, verification and certification of their credentials before admission letters are issued through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS). He extended the same exemption to candidates seeking National Diploma admission in non-technology agricultural and related courses, describing the policy as a move to boost enrolment in those programmes. The policy has not been without pushback. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has voiced opposition, warning that if poorly implemented, the exemption could undermine the quality of teacher education and weaken professionalism within the teaching profession.