\n\nThe Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has abolished admissions into affiliated degree programmes offered by Colleges of Education, making the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) the only admission route into the institutions from the 2026/2027 academic session.
The policy, contained in JAMB’s newly released NCE/ND Agriculture Registration Guidelines, also prohibits direct admission into 100 and 200 levels in Colleges of Education. Under the new arrangement, all prospective students seeking admission into these institutions must first enrol through the NCE programme.
The decision marks a significant change in Nigeria’s teacher education system and brings an end to affiliated degree programmes that previously allowed Colleges of Education to award university degrees through partnerships with conventional universities. The reform is expected to affect thousands of candidates who had applied for degree programmes through affiliated colleges for the upcoming admission cycle.
To reduce the impact on affected candidates, JAMB has provided several alternatives. Applicants may change their institution at no cost, transfer to the parent university affiliated with their chosen degree programme, or allow their second-choice institution to become their primary choice for admission consideration.
The Board stated that candidates wishing to make any of these changes have until June 22 to complete the process. The move is expected to reshape admission pathways into Colleges of Education and strengthen the NCE as the foundational qualification for teacher training in Nigeria.
