The Federal Government has exempted candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education for education and agriculture non-engineering programmes from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
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The disclosure was made by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, via an X post on Monday.
The decision was part of the resolutions reached during JAMB’s 2026 Policy Meeting and is expected to expand access to teacher education and agriculture-related programmes in Nigeria.
What they are saying
According to JAMB, candidates applying to Colleges of Education for programmes in education and agriculture non-engineering disciplines will no longer be required to sit for UTME as part of the admission process.
- The policy, which takes effect from the 2027 admission cycle next year, is designed to widen opportunities for prospective students while encouraging enrolment in sectors considered vital to national development.
- “Candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education would no longer be required to sit for the UTME examination.”
This exemption applies strictly to Colleges of Education and does not cover similar education or agriculture non-engineering courses offered by universities or polytechnics, where UTME remains compulsory.
More insights
At the same Policy Meeting, JAMB also approved the minimum tolerable admissible scores for the 2026 admission exercise across tertiary institutions.
- Universities and Colleges of Nursing Sciences will admit candidates with a minimum score of 150, while polytechnics will accept candidates from 100 and above.
- Universities and Colleges of Nursing Sciences minimum score: 150
- Polytechnics minimum score: 100
- Minimum admission age into Nigerian tertiary institutions remains 16 years
These benchmarks will serve as the national baseline for admissions, although institutions retain the flexibility to set higher requirements where necessary.
What you should know
Over the years, JAMB’s cut-off marks for university admissions have fluctuated significantly, reflecting changing education policies and admission strategies.
- Between 2008 and 2017, the university benchmark remained around 180
- From 2017 to 2019, it dropped to 120
- Between 2019 and 2021, it increased to 160
- From 2021 to 2024, it settled between 140 and 150 depending on institution type
In 2025, JAMB fixed the minimum admissible scores at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education, and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences.
