Bukola Afeni
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that, with effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, no candidate will be admitted directly into 100 or 200 levels in any College of Education in Nigeria.
The directive was contained in JAMB’s newly released NCE/ND Agric Registration Guidelines issued by the Office of the Registrar in June 2026.
The Board said all entrants into Colleges of Education will henceforth pass through the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) route as part of a major overhaul of its admission structure for teacher training institutions and agric-related non-technology programmes.
In a new advisory signed by its Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB stated that the policy is aimed at standardising entry requirements and tightening verification processes across institutions.
“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,” the Board said.
Under the new framework, applicants must first undergo O’level result verification through approved examination bodies before generating a verification code required for registration.
Candidates will also be required to create a JAMB profile using their National Identification Number and complete registration via the e-Facility portal or accredited centres.
JAMB further explained that all applications will be processed through its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), where institutions will recommend candidates for approval after electronic verification of results.
The Board also introduced new fees, including ₦3,500 for application registration, ₦700 CBT centre charges, and ₦1,500–₦2,000 for O’level verification depending on the number of sittings.
It added that candidates with “Awaiting Results” status will not be considered for recommendation until their results are uploaded and verified.
The policy also includes a condonement arrangement for candidates already illegally admitted into Colleges of Education in the 2024 and 2025 academic sessions, but excludes the 2026 intake from such provisions.
JAMB directed all institutions, CBT centres and registration officers to comply strictly with the new admission guidelines, warning that all admissions will be centrally monitored and validated.
