BREAKING: FG Drops UTME as Requirement for NCE Admission

The Federal Government has officially scrapped the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in colleges of education nationwide.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the 2026 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting held in Abuja on Monday.

Under the new policy, prospective NCE students will no longer be required to sit for the UTME before gaining admission into colleges of education.

Instead, candidates will only need a minimum of four O’Level credits in relevant subjects to qualify for admission into NCE programmes.

According to the Minister, the decision is aimed at expanding access to teacher education and reducing the administrative burden on JAMB.

The development forms part of ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s education sector designed to increase admission opportunities for young Nigerians and strengthen the country’s teacher training system.

The policy has already sparked reactions across the education sector, with many stakeholders describing it as a major shift in the nation’s admission process.