Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially discontinued admissions into affiliated degree programmes run by colleges of education across Nigeria, a move set to reshape the tertiary education admission process beginning from the 2026/2027 academic session. The policy is expected to affect thousands of candidates and several institutions operating university-affiliated degree programmes.
The decision was announced on June 21, 2026, in Abuja, through newly released registration guidelines issued by the office of the JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede. According to the statement, the new directive forms part of broader reforms to streamline admissions into the Nigeria Certificate in Education and National Diploma (ND) agricultural programmes, effectively ending direct degree admissions in colleges of education affiliated with universities.
Under the revised guidelines, candidates seeking admission into colleges of education will now only be processed through approved NCE programmes, making the NCE the sole entry pathway into such institutions.
The new policy means colleges of education can no longer admit students directly into 100-level or 200-level degree programmes under university affiliations, ending a long-standing system that allowed institutions to broaden academic offerings beyond teacher training.
JAMB also introduced transition options for candidates already affected by the policy. Direct Entry applicants can now transfer to the parent universities overseeing the affiliated programmes, switch institutions without paying transfer fees, or promote their second-choice institutions to first choice.
For candidates who applied through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the Board stated they may either transfer to another institution, move to an NCE programme, or adjust their institution preferences under the new framework.
The Board further clarified that any candidate opting for the NCE route must obtain an O’Level verification code and complete registration through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to formalize the process.
Education stakeholders say the development could significantly alter admission patterns in Nigeria, particularly for students who preferred degree programmes offered through colleges of education due to lower tuition and easier accessibility.
The move follows JAMB’s broader 2026 education reforms, including the exemption of NCE and agriculture-related candidates from sitting the UTME, a policy aimed at boosting enrollment in teacher education and agricultural studies.
Analysts believe the latest decision is part of efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight, improve quality assurance, and standardize tertiary education admissions across the country.
JAMB has advised all colleges of education, institutional registration centres, and candidates to strictly comply with the updated guidelines as implementation begins for the new admission cycle.
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