The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has officially discontinued admissions into affiliated degree programmes operated by colleges of education.
The decision is contained in JAMB’s newly released NCE/ND Agric Registration Guidelines issued by the Office of the Registrar in June 2026.
The development marks a major reform in Nigeria’s teacher education structure, making the Nigeria Certificate in Education the sole entry requirement into colleges of education from the 2026/2027 academic session.
The board stated that “no admission into any affiliated programme in any college of education from the 2026/2027 session.”
It further explained that “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,” adding that all new entrants must now come through the NCE pathway.
JAMB also ruled out direct entry into 100 and 200 levels in colleges of education, reinforcing the NCE as the only entry route.
The policy effectively brings an end to affiliated degree arrangements that allowed colleges of education to award university degrees through partnerships with universities.
To reduce disruption, JAMB outlined options for candidates who had already selected affiliated colleges for degree programmes through Direct Entry.
According to the board, affected candidates may request a change of institution at no cost, transfer to the parent university of the affiliated programme, or allow their second-choice institution to become their first choice for processing.
It stated that “A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the degree programme is affiliated,” while also noting that candidates have a deadline of June 22 to complete any changes.
For UTME candidates seeking 100-level admission into affiliated colleges, JAMB said they may also change institutions, elevate their second choice to first choice, or switch to the NCE programme.
The board added that candidates opting for the NCE route must obtain an O-Level verification code from the relevant examination body and pay a registration fee of N700 on the JAMB portal.
It further explained that “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,”
JAMB also introduced mandatory O-Level verification for all NCE applicants, setting fees at N1,500 for one sitting and N2,000 for two sittings.
It directed colleges of education and relevant registration centres to strictly comply with the new guidelines.
“All PRCs, IPRCs and officers of the board are to study the guidelines and ensure strict compliance with the information contained therein,” the Registrar said.
Affiliated degree programmes previously allowed students in colleges of education to earn university degrees through partnerships with universities.
The new policy now formally ends that arrangement for future admissions, reinforcing NCE as the foundation of teacher education in Nigeria.
JAMB added that “Anyone who chooses NCE and s/he is proposed/recommended would have any ongoing UTME/DE process suspended,”
It also noted that candidates already applying through UTME will have their details migrated to their chosen institutions or relevant programmes.