Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced sweeping changes to the admission process for Colleges of Education across Nigeria, ending direct admission into 100-level and 200-level programmes and making the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) the sole entry pathway beginning from the 2026/2027 academic session.
The new admission guidelines were issued by JAMB in June 2026 through the Office of the Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, and communicated to stakeholders by the board’s Director of Communications, Fabian Benjamin. The policy will take effect nationwide from the 2026/2027 academic session and applies to all Colleges of Education and affiliated degree programmes across Nigeria.
According to the board, candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education will henceforth be required to gain entry through the NCE route.
JAMB stated that admissions directly into 100-level and 200-level programmes in Colleges of Education have been discontinued.
The board explained that the measure is aimed at standardising admission procedures and strengthening compliance with approved academic pathways.
Under the new arrangement, all entrants into Colleges of Education will begin their academic journey through the NCE programme.
The board further announced that candidates would only be permitted to pursue one admission route at a time.
This means applicants will no longer be allowed to process multiple admission modes simultaneously.
JAMB also declared that admissions into affiliated degree programmes operated by Colleges of Education would cease from the 2026/2027 academic session.
The decision represents a significant shift in Nigeria’s teacher education and tertiary admission framework.
According to the guidelines, candidates applying through the NCE route must undergo verification of their O’Level results before completing registration.
The verification process will involve recognised examination bodies, including West African Examinations Council, National Examinations Council, National Business and Technical Examinations Board and National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies.
JAMB disclosed that candidates will pay ₦1,500 for the verification of one sitting and ₦2,000 for verification involving two sittings.
The board stated that verification is intended to ensure the authenticity of academic qualifications presented by applicants.
Under the revised admission structure, candidates applying through the NCE route must select only Colleges of Education as their first, second and third choices.
The board said this requirement is designed to align applicants with the specific admission category they have chosen.
JAMB also announced that all 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination applicants who selected Colleges of Education would automatically be migrated to their first-choice College of Education or agric-related non-technology National Diploma programmes.
The board noted that transitional measures have been introduced for candidates affected by the policy changes.
Students admitted into Colleges of Education during the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions without proper JAMB processing have been provided with options to regularise their admissions.
According to JAMB, such candidates may participate in a condonement process after obtaining O’Level verification codes and completing registration through approved centres.
The board also addressed concerns affecting students enrolled in affiliated degree programmes.
For Direct Entry candidates who selected affiliated Colleges of Education for degree programmes in 2026, JAMB said they may apply for a change of institution or transfer to the parent university overseeing the affiliation arrangement.
The board stated that candidates could also choose from other available options provided under the revised policy framework.
Similarly, affected UTME candidates seeking admission into affiliated Colleges of Education degree programmes may switch institutions, move to alternative choices or migrate to NCE programmes.
JAMB maintained that the measures are necessary to improve transparency and accountability in the admission process.
The board said the reforms would help ensure that all admissions are processed through approved channels.
Education stakeholders are expected to study the implications of the policy for teacher education institutions across the country.
The changes could affect thousands of prospective students seeking admission into Colleges of Education and affiliated degree programmes.
The board stressed that all institutions and candidates must comply fully with the new admission framework.
JAMB added that the policy is intended to strengthen qualification verification, improve admission integrity and promote adherence to established procedures.
The Registrar of JAMB, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, signed the guidelines, reaffirming the board’s commitment to maintaining standards in Nigeria’s tertiary education admission system.
The new policy will officially take effect with the commencement of admissions for the 2026/2027 academic session, marking a significant shift in the administration of admissions into Colleges of Education nationwide.
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