The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced new admission guidelines that will affect candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education and agriculture-related National Diploma programmes from the 2026/2027 academic session.
Under the new policy, candidates will no longer be admitted directly into 100-level or 200-level programmes in Colleges of Education.
JAMB stated that all admissions into the institutions will now follow the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) pathway.
Direct entry route discontinued
The board explained that candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education must now be processed through the NCE admission system.
The advisory issued by JAMB stated that no candidate would be admitted directly into 100-level or 200-level programmes in Colleges of Education from the 2026/2027 session.
The board also warned that applicants would only be allowed to process one admission route at a time.
Affiliated programmes affected by new rule
JAMB further announced that admissions into affiliated programmes operated by Colleges of Education will no longer continue from the new academic session.
Candidates affected by the change will have alternative options, including changing institutions or moving to approved programmes.
The board said the adjustments were introduced to ensure proper admission procedures and improve compliance across the education system.
O’Level verification now compulsory
According to the new guidelines, candidates applying through the NCE route must verify their O’Level results with recognised examination bodies before completing registration.
The verification process will involve results from bodies such as WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS.
JAMB stated that candidates will pay N1,500 for verification of one sitting and N2,000 for two sittings.
UTME candidates to be migrated
The examination body also disclosed that 2026 UTME candidates who selected Colleges of Education would automatically be moved to their chosen first-choice institutions or relevant agriculture-related ND programmes.
The board added that candidates affected by previous admission arrangements would be guided through available options, including transfers and changes of institution.
JAMB explains reason for policy change
JAMB said the new measures are designed to strengthen admission transparency, verify candidate qualifications and ensure that institutions follow approved admission procedures.
The guidelines were signed by JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede.