JAMB Exempts Education, Agriculture Candidates From UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates seeking admission into education programmes and agriculture-related non-engineering courses in Colleges of Education and Polytechnics will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The decision was announced on Monday during the ongoing 2026 policy meeting on admissions in Abuja.

In a post shared on its official X handle, JAMB stated, “Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME.”

Speaking during the meeting, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, explained that candidates applying for the National Certificate in Education (NCE) programme would no longer be required to sit the UTME, provided they meet the minimum admission requirements.

“Candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME,” Alausa said.

He, however, clarified that such candidates must still register with JAMB before their admissions can be processed.

“However, it is imperative to emphasise that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS, in accordance with extant regulations,” he stated.

The minister also disclosed that the exemption would apply to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in agriculture and other related non-technology courses.

“This exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses,” he noted.

According to Alausa, the policy aims to expand access to tertiary education while maintaining the credibility of the admission process.

“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system.

“It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programmes, both of which are critical to national development,” he added.

The development marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s tertiary admission system, where the UTME has traditionally served as the major qualifying examination for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

JAMB’s annual policy meeting is convened to determine admission procedures for tertiary institutions across the country, including cut-off marks and other guidelines for the new academic session.

With the latest policy adjustment, candidates pursuing Education and agriculture-related programmes will now have alternative admission pathways through institutional screening and credential verification instead of the conventional UTME process.