JAMB Ends Admissions Into Affiliated Degree Programmes In Colleges Of Education

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has discontinued admissions to degree programmes offered by Colleges of Education affiliated with universities, effective from the 2026/2027 academic session.

Naija News reports that the decision was contained in JAMB’s newly released NCE/ND Agric Registration Guidelines issued by the Office of the Registrar in June 2026.

According to the Board, admissions into all affiliated degree programmes offered by Colleges of Education will cease from the 2026/2027 academic session.

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

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

“With effect from 2026/7 Session, no admission into 100 or 200 Level is allowed into any College of Education. All entrants are through NCE,” it stated.

The policy effectively ends the long-standing arrangement under which Colleges of Education offered bachelor’s degree programmes through affiliations with conventional universities.

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

According to the Board, Direct Entry candidates may change their institution at no cost, transfer to the parent university supervising the degree programme, or allow their second-choice institution to become their first choice.

“A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the Degree programme is affiliated,” JAMB stated.

The Board added that affected candidates were given until June 22 to complete the necessary changes.

For candidates seeking admission through the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, JAMB said they could also change institutions, elevate a second-choice institution to first choice, or switch to the NCE programme.

JAMB explained that candidates opting for the NCE route would 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 candidate may be moved to the NCE programme of the institution, on the understanding that the choice of the College of Education indicates an interest in pursuing the NCE qualification,” the Board said.

It further warned that candidates recommended for admission through the NCE programme would have any existing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended.

“Anyone who chooses NCE and s/he is proposed/recommended, would have any ongoing UTME/DE process suspended,” JAMB stated.

The Board also introduced compulsory O’Level verification for all NCE applicants, fixing the verification fee at ₦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 strict compliance.

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