JAMB Ends Degree Admissions in Colleges of Education, Makes NCE Sole Entry Route

JAMB Ends Degree Admissions in Colleges of Education, Makes NCE Sole Entry Route 

 The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the discontinuation of admissions into affiliated degree programmes offered by Colleges of Education across Nigeria, a policy shift that will take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session.

 The new directive, contained in JAMB's recently released NCE/ND Agriculture Registration Guidelines, effectively establishes the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) as the only admission pathway into Colleges of Education nationwide. 

According to the Board, no fresh admissions will be granted into degree programmes run through affiliations between Colleges of Education and universities beginning from the 2026/2027 academic year. 

 JAMB further stated that direct admission into 100-level or 200-level programmes within Colleges of Education will no longer be permitted. "With effect from the 2026/2027 session, no admission into 100 or 200 level is allowed into any College of Education. All entrants are through NCE," the Board stated. 

 The development marks the end of a long-standing arrangement that enabled Colleges of Education to award bachelor's degrees through partnerships with conventional universities. For decades, students have pursued degree qualifications within Colleges of Education under affiliation agreements with various universities across the country. 

The policy is expected to affect thousands of candidates who selected affiliated degree programmes in Colleges of Education during the 2026 admission process. To address concerns from affected applicants, JAMB has provided several alternatives. Candidates may change their institution at no additional cost, transfer their application to the parent university overseeing the affiliated degree programme, or upgrade their second-choice institution to first choice for admission consideration. 

 The Board also noted that candidates interested in continuing within Colleges of Education may opt for the NCE programme instead. For candidates seeking admission through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), JAMB outlined three available options: changing institution, making a second-choice institution their first choice, or migrating to an NCE programme.

 Candidates choosing the NCE route will be required to obtain an O'Level verification code from the relevant examination body and pay a registration fee of N700 through the JAMB portal. JAMB explained that applicants who selected Colleges of Education initially demonstrated an interest in teacher education and may therefore be transferred to the institution's NCE programme if they so choose. 

The Board further clarified that candidates recommended for admission into an NCE programme would have any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended.

 In addition, JAMB introduced a compulsory O'Level verification process for all NCE applicants. Verification fees have been fixed at N1,500 for candidates presenting one sitting result and N2,000 for those presenting results from two sittings. The Board has directed Colleges of Education, Institutional Professional Registration Centres (IPRCs), accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, and its officials nationwide to familiarize themselves with the new guidelines and ensure strict compliance. 

 The latest reform is widely viewed as a significant step in restructuring teacher education in Nigeria. By making the NCE the foundational qualification for admission into Colleges of Education, JAMB aims to strengthen the professional training framework for future educators while redefining the role of affiliated degree programmes in the country's higher education system. 

 Prospective students are advised to review their admission choices carefully and take advantage of the available options before the stipulated deadlines to avoid disruptions to their admission process.