FG exempts Colleges of Education candidates from UTME in major admission reform

The Federal Government has exempted candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), in a major shift to Nigeria’s tertiary admission policy.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the decision on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 admission policy meeting organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Under the new guideline, candidates with at least four credit passes in relevant subjects will be eligible for admission into Colleges of Education without sitting for UTME.

However, all applicants are still required to register with JAMB, while their credentials will be screened and verified through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) before final admission.

The minister also disclosed that similar exemptions have been extended to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology and agriculture-related courses, describing the policy as a balance between widening access to education and maintaining admission standards.