FME Cancels 2026 NTI NCE, Degree Admissions Over Regulatory Breaches

The Federal Ministry of Education has cancelled all admissions into the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, for its NCE and degree programmes for the 2026 academic session over regulatory violations.

The ministry also directed the institute to end all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, warning prospective students and parents against seeking admission into the affected programmes.

In a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the ministry said NTI lacked the authorisation to award either National Certificate in Education (NCE) or university degrees.

It consequently prohibited further admissions into the programmes through full-time, part-time and Distance Learning Studies (DLS) platforms.

The ministry urged prospective applicants not to apply, accept admission offers or make payments for any of the affected programmes.

It attributed the decision to violations of the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued on September 12, 2025. The guidelines require NTI to operate within its approved mandate and comply with relevant regulatory requirements.

The ministry further stressed that NCE admissions must follow the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requirements and accreditation standards of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

It also directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to notify affected universities and ensure compliance with the withdrawal of NTI’s degree-awarding arrangements.

However, the ministry said the cancellation would not automatically end the academic pursuits of students already enrolled in existing programmes.

To protect their interests, it directed the NCCE to conduct a comprehensive accreditation exercise covering existing NCE II–IV Distance Learning programmes and study centres across the six geopolitical zones.

According to the ministry, eligible students may complete their programmes, subject to the accreditation findings and other regulatory requirements.

It explained that the intervention seeks to protect students from academic uncertainty while preventing further enrolment in unapproved programmes.

The ministry also clarified that NTI’s statutory responsibilities remain focused on teacher training, retraining, in-service development and continuous professional development.

These responsibilities include strengthening teachers’ pedagogical skills and providing professional development opportunities for serving teachers.

One of such programmes is the three-to-six-month Special Abridged Programme. It targets serving teachers who hold degrees outside Education and need professional teaching qualifications.

The programme enables eligible participants to acquire the competencies required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), subject to applicable regulations.

The ministry urged members of the public to verify the accreditation and admission status of educational programmes through relevant regulatory agencies and official government channels before applying or making payments.

It said the measures would uphold academic standards, protect students and prevent prospective applicants from falling victim to unauthorised admissions.