FG targets 1.5m NCE candidates’ admission with UTME waiver

The federal government has unveiled plans to increase admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme to 1.5 million candidates through a proposed exemption from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, explained that the recent policy of exempting colleges of education, as well as non-technology agricultural courses in polytechnics and monotechnics, from sitting UTME is aimed at boosting enrolment and strengthening teacher education across the country.

The minister said the policy would double the number of admissions recorded over the past two years and create wider opportunities for young Nigerians.

The minister emphasised that the policy would double the number of admissions recorded over the past two years and create wider opportunities for young Nigerians.

“Guess what, this year alone, with the changes we are making through eliminating UTME requirements for college of education and UTME requirements for non-technology agricultural courses in our polytechnics and monotechnics would increase the number of people being admitted throughout tertiary institutions to about 1.5 million.

“That is literally doubling it from two years ago. This has created opportunities for young Nigerians,” he said.

Furthermore, he explained that one of the key reasons for exempting these categories of students from writing UTME is to support efforts aimed at improving food security in Nigeria.

“The exemptions are for people going into colleges of education and people going to monotechnics or polytechnics to study non-technology agriculture courses, and there is a reason for that. We need that to help food security in our country,” he stressed.

Besides, the minister disclosed that the ministry plans to carry out a comprehensive curriculum modernisation for all agricultural courses across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

“The goal of the reform is to update the curriculum to reflect modern agricultural practices and changes that have occurred over the past decade, including developments such as greenhouse farming.

“Hopefully by the end of this year, we will have a brand new agric curriculum that meets modern-day standards,” he said.

Alausa had earlier on Monday, during the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) 2026 policy meeting in Abuja, announced the exemption of colleges of education and non-technology agricultural courses from UTME.

Under the new guidelines, prospective students will be required to have at least four O-level credits in the school certificate examination to qualify for admission.

“The policy is also aimed at easing the administrative burden on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and harnessing the positive orientation towards the teaching profession,” the minister noted.