JAMB Ends Affiliated Degree Programmes In Colleges Of Education

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has discontinued admissions into degree programmes run by Colleges of Education in affiliation with universities, effectively restoring the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) as the only admission pathway into the institutions from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The policy, contained in JAMB’s newly issued NCE and National Diploma in Agriculture registration guidelines, marks a significant change in the administration of teacher education in the country.

Under the new arrangement, the Board directed that no fresh admissions should be processed into any affiliated degree programme offered by Colleges of Education beginning from the 2026/2027 academic session.

JAMB also barred direct admission into 100 and 200 levels in Colleges of Education, insisting that all prospective students must now be admitted through the NCE route.

The decision brings to a close a long-standing system that allowed Colleges of Education to offer bachelor’s degree programmes through partnerships with universities, enabling students to earn university degrees while studying in the colleges.

The development is expected to affect a large number of candidates who had applied for admission into affiliated degree programmes for the forthcoming academic session.

To address the transition, JAMB outlined a number of options for affected candidates. Those who applied through Direct Entry may change their institutions without additional charges, transfer to the parent university affiliated with their chosen degree programme, or allow their second-choice institution to become their preferred institution for admission consideration.

According to the Board, candidates may also opt to continue their studies in the parent universities responsible for the affiliated programmes.

The guidelines further provided alternatives for candidates seeking admission through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) into affiliated Colleges of Education.

Such candidates may switch to another institution, elevate their second-choice institution to first choice, or migrate to the NCE programme of their chosen college.

JAMB explained that candidates who decide to pursue the NCE qualification would only be required to obtain an O’Level verification code from the relevant examination body and pay a registration fee of ₦700 through its portal.

The Board noted that choosing a College of Education indicates an intention to pursue the NCE qualification and that candidates willing to continue through that route would be accommodated accordingly.

It added that candidates recommended for NCE admission would automatically have any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry admission processes suspended.

In addition, JAMB announced that details of candidates who had already applied through the 2026 UTME would be automatically migrated to their selected first-choice Colleges of Education or Agric-related National Diploma programmes where applicable.

The Board also introduced compulsory O’Level verification for all NCE applicants. Verification will attract a fee of ₦1,500 for one sitting and ₦2,000 for two sittings.

JAMB urged Colleges of Education, Institutional Professional Registration Centres, accredited Computer-Based Test centres and its officials nationwide to familiarise themselves with the new guidelines and ensure full compliance.

The latest policy is widely seen as a major restructuring of teacher education admissions and a move aimed at reinforcing the NCE as the foundational qualification for training teachers in Nigeria.

Source: Punch