NIGERIA: JAMB Ends Affiliated Degree Programme Admissions in Colleges of Education

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has scrapped admissions into affiliated degree programmes run by Colleges of Education, effectively ending a decades-long arrangement that allowed the institutions to award university degrees through partnerships with conventional universities.

The new policy, contained in JAMB’s 2026 NCE/ND Agric Registration Guidelines, takes effect from the 2026/2027 academic session and makes the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) the sole entry route into Colleges of Education nationwide.

JAMB stated that “no admission into any affiliated programme in any College of Education from 2026/7 Session” would be permitted.

The Board also prohibited direct admission into 100 and 200 levels in Colleges of Education, insisting that all new entrants must be admitted through the NCE programme.

“With effect from 2026/7 Session, no admission into 100 or 200 Level is allowed into any College of Education. All entrants are through NCE,” it said.

The decision is expected to affect thousands of candidates who had applied for degree programmes through affiliated Colleges of Education for the 2026 admission cycle.

To cushion the impact, JAMB said affected Direct Entry candidates could change institutions at no cost, transfer to the parent university running the affiliated programme, or allow their second-choice institution to become their first choice for admission processing.

“A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the Degree programme is affiliated,” the Board stated.

Candidates seeking admission through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) into the affected programmes were also given options to change institutions, elevate their second-choice institutions, or migrate to the NCE programme.

JAMB explained that candidates opting for the NCE route would be required to obtain an O’Level verification code and pay a ₦700 registration fee through its 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,” the Board said.

The Board further noted that candidates have until June 22 to complete the migration process.

The guidelines also introduced mandatory O’Level verification for all NCE applicants, pegging the fee at ₦1,500 for one sitting and ₦2,000 for two sittings.

JAMB urged Colleges of Education, Institutional Professional Registration Centres, and accredited CBT centres to study the new guidelines and ensure strict compliance.

“All PRCs, IPRCs, and Officers of the Board are to study the guidelines and ensure strict compliance with the information contained therein,” it added.

The reform marks a major shift in Nigeria’s teacher education system, reinforcing the NCE as the foundational qualification for prospective teachers and bringing an end to new admissions into degree programmes previously offered through affiliations between Colleges of Education and universities.