The Federal Government has officially removed the requirement of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in Colleges of Education.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this known on Monday during the 2026 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Abuja.
Under the new directive, prospective candidates are now only required to possess a minimum of four O’Level credits in relevant subjects to gain admission into NCE programmes.
Alausa explained that the policy shift is part of ongoing reforms aimed at streamlining the admission process and reducing the administrative burden on JAMB.
The move is also expected to widen access to teacher education and encourage more candidates to enroll in Colleges of Education across the country.
