Effective from the 2026/2027 academic session, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has ceased admissions into degree programmes run by Colleges of Education affiliated to universities.

The decision was captured in JAMB’s newly released NCE/ND Agric Registration Guidelines issued by the Office of the Registrar in June 2026.

The Board has announced the discontinuation of admissions to all the affiliated degree programmes run by the Colleges of Education with effect from the 2026/2027 academic session.

JAMB said, “No admission into any affiliated programme in any College of Education from 2026/7 Session.”

The Board also prohibited direct admission into 100 and 200 levels in Colleges of Education, saying all fresh students must gain admission through the Nigeria Certificate in Education programme.

“There shall be no admission into 100 or 200 Level into any College of Education starting from 2026/7 Session. All entries are through NCE,” it said.

The policy puts an end to the long-standing arrangement whereby Colleges of Education offered bachelor’s degree programmes through affiliations with conventional universities.

JAMB said it would offer alternative options to candidates who applied for affiliated degree programmes in Colleges of Education during the 2026 admission exercise.

There is no cost for Direct Entry candidates to change institution, move to the parent university supervising the degree programme or allow their second-choice institution to become their first choice, the Board said.

A candidate may choose to be transferred to the parent university with which the Degree programme is affiliated, JAMB said.

The Board also said that the affected candidates were given time until June 22 to make the necessary changes.

JAMB said candidates seeking admission via the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination could also change institutions, upgrade a second choice institution to first choice or switch to the NCE programme.

NCE Applicants To Be Verified
JAMB explained that candidates opting for the NCE route will have to procure an O’Level verification code from the relevant examination body and make a payment of ₦700 registration fee through its portal.

“The candidate may be transferred to the NCE programme of the institution with the understanding that the choice of the College of Education implies an interest in pursuing the NCE qualification,” the Board said.

It said candidates recommended for admission through the NCE programme would have their existing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended.

“Anyone that chooses NCE and he/she is nominated/recommended, would have any ongoing UTME/DE process suspended,” JAMB said.

Mandatory O’Level verification for all NCE applicants was also introduced by the Board with the verification fee pegged at ₦1,500 for one sitting and ₦2,000 for two sittings.

JAMB has called on all Colleges of Education, Institutional Professional Registration Centres, accredited Computer-Based Test centres and its officials nationwide to acquaint themselves with the new guidelines and ensure strict adherence.

The Registrar stated, “All PRCs, IPRCs and Officers of the Board are to study the guidelines and ensure strict compliance with the information contained therein.”