FG removes UTME requirement for NCE, Agriculture ND admissions

The federal government has announced that candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes and National Diploma courses in non-technology agricultural fields will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The development was disclosed by Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions held on Monday in Abuja.

According to the minister, the new policy is part of ongoing reforms aimed at expanding access to tertiary education, particularly in teacher education and agriculture-related programmes considered critical to national development.

Alausa explained that candidates seeking admission into NCE programmes with a minimum of four credit passes would no longer be mandated to write the UTME.

He, however, clarified that such candidates must still register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and have their credentials screened and verified through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) before admission letters are issued.

“In recognition of this reality, the Federal Ministry of Education, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, has taken a deliberate policy position.

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“Accordingly, candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME,” the minister stated.

He added that the same exemption would apply to candidates seeking admission into national diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.

The minister noted that the policy was designed to ease pressure associated with the UTME while encouraging greater participation in education and agricultural programmes.

He said available data showed that colleges of education possess significant capacity to admit more candidates, especially from their local communities, due to affordability, proximity, and cultural alignment.

According to him, harnessing such capacity would help tackle the challenge of out-of-school youths while promoting interest in the teaching profession.

The minister also stressed that despite the exemption, all admissions must still be processed through CAPS to maintain transparency and preserve the integrity of the admission system.

He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to reforms targeted at improving access, accountability, and quality within the tertiary education sector.