FG Exempts Colleges of Education, Agric Candidates from UTME

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Candidates seeking to gain admission into Colleges of Education in Nigeria will no longer need to write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

This information was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, during an annual admission policy meeting of JAMB in Abuja on Monday.

He revealed that the new policy would become effective in the 2026.2027 admission cycle, stating that it was to make tertiary education admission easier for would-be teachers in the country.

The Minister also said candidates seeking admission to agriculture programmes outside engineering disciplines would not be required to sit for UTME, though they must register with JAMB.

“Candidates seeking admission into Education Programs and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME,” he declared.

However, they are mandated to have at least four credit passes in relevant subjects in the Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE) conducted by either the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the National Examinations Council (NECO), he stated.

Mr Alausa noted that after these academic credentials are screened, verified and certified, the admission letters would be issued through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), in line with existing regulations.