The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a significant policy change that will reshape admission into colleges of education across Nigeria.
Starting from the 2026/2027 academic session, JAMB will no longer conduct admissions into affiliated degree programs offered by colleges of education.
This major policy change will affect thousands of students, similar to recent reforms such as JAMB urging parents to protest admission bias.
This means the National Certificate in Education (NCE) will now be the only recognized entry route into these institutions.
What the New Policy Means
Under the new rule, candidates who want to pursue degree programs will have to first obtain their NCE before applying for direct entry into universities.
This effectively ends the dual system where colleges of education ran both NCE certificates and full degree programs simultaneously.
JAMB’s decision is aimed at restoring focus to the core mandate of colleges of education producing well-trained teachers through the NCE program.
Many education stakeholders have welcomed the move, arguing that the previous arrangement had created confusion and weakened the quality of teacher training in the country.
Impact on Students and Institutions
For prospective students, this change brings more clarity. Those interested in teaching can now follow a straightforward path:
complete the NCE program, gain practical experience if needed, and then proceed to university for a degree through direct entry.
Colleges of Education will now concentrate on strengthening their NCE programs. Institutions currently running affiliated degree programs will need to adjust their structures and focus more on their traditional role as teacher-training colleges.
This policy is part of ongoing efforts to improve standards in Nigeria’s education system. By streamlining admissions, JAMB hopes to reduce irregularities and ensure that only qualified candidates enter the teaching profession.
As the new academic session approaches, candidates and parents are advised to take note of this important change and plan their educational journey accordingly.
JAMB has promised to provide more guidance and updates on the implementation of the new policy.