The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced a major reform to Nigeria’s teacher education system by ending admissions into affiliated degree programmes offered by colleges of education nationwide.
Under the new policy, which will take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) will become the only entry pathway into colleges of education.
The directive 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 degree programmes run through affiliations between colleges of education and conventional universities will no longer be permitted.
“From the 2026/2027 session, there will be no admission into any affiliated programme in any college of education,” JAMB stated.
The board also announced the end of direct admissions into both 100 and 200 levels within colleges of education, stressing that all prospective students must now begin their academic journey through the NCE programme.
“With effect from the 2026/2027 session, no admission into 100 or 200 Level is allowed into any college of education. All entrants are through NCE,” the board added.
The decision effectively closes a long-standing route that allowed colleges of education to award bachelor’s degrees through partnerships with universities.
For years, the affiliated degree model enabled students to study at colleges of education while earning university degrees issued by partner institutions.
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The new policy is expected to impact thousands of candidates who had already chosen affiliated degree programmes for the 2026 admission exercise. To ease the transition, JAMB outlined several alternatives for affected candidates.
Candidates who applied through the Direct Entry route can change their institution free of charge, transfer to the parent university overseeing the affiliated programme or allow their second-choice institution to become their primary choice for admission processing.
“A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the degree programme is affiliated,” the board said. The board also gave candidates until June 22 to complete any necessary changes.
Similarly, candidates seeking admission through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination into affiliated colleges of education have been presented with three options: switch institutions, promote their second-choice institution to first choice or migrate entirely to the NCE programme.
Those opting for the NCE pathway will be required to obtain an O-Level verification code from the appropriate examination body and pay a N700 registration fee through JAMB’s 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,” JAMB explained.
The new guidelines also emphasise that selecting the NCE pathway is a deliberate decision that automatically suspends any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry admission process.
JAMB further disclosed that candidates who have already applied through the 2026 UTME would have their details automatically transferred to their selected first-choice college of education or agric-related non-technology National Diploma programmes.
In addition, all NCE applicants will now undergo compulsory O-Level verification. The verification fee has been fixed at N1,500 for one sitting and N2,000 for two sittings.
The board also directed 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 full 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 said.
The policy marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s teacher education structure, reinforcing the NCE as the foundational qualification for students seeking admission into colleges of education.
With the affiliated degree system now ending for new admissions, the country is entering a new phase that places greater emphasis on specialised teacher training before any progression to higher academic qualifications.
