The Federal Government yesterday exempted candidates applying for the National Certificate in Education (NCE) programme with at least four credits from sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Minister of Education Tunji Alausa announced the policy in Abuja at the 2026 policy meeting on admissions into tertiary institutions organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The event also featured the sixth edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit (NATAP-M) awards. Alausa said the decision followed consultations with stakeholders aimed at expanding access to teacher education and strengthening enrollment in Colleges of Education (CoE) nationwide.

He explained that eligible candidates would, however, be required to register with JAMB for proper screening, verification and issuance of admission letters through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

According to him, the exemption is part of deliberate reforms to harness the admission capacity of colleges of education, particularly within local communities. The minister said: “In recognition of this reality, the Federal Ministry of Education, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, has taken a deliberate policy position.

“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.