The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has discontinued admissions into degree programmes offered through affiliations between Colleges of Education and universities nationwide, bringing an end to a system that has operated for many years.
The directive was contained in the newly issued Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and National Diploma (ND) Non-Technology Agriculture Registration Guidelines for the 2026/2027 academic session, released by the Office of the Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede.
The guidelines, made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday by JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin, state that no fresh admissions will be permitted into affiliated degree programmes in Colleges of Education beginning from the 2026/2027 academic session.
According to the board, all candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education must now enter through the NCE pathway, noting that admissions into 100-level or 200-level degree programmes within the institutions will no longer be allowed.
JAMB also made it clear that admissions into any university-affiliated degree programme operated by Colleges of Education have been discontinued from the 2026/2027 academic session.
The move comes as the Federal Government continues the implementation of the Dual Mandate Policy, which authorises qualified Colleges of Education to independently award both NCE certificates and bachelor’s degrees.
The reform is expected to significantly alter teacher education admissions in Nigeria by strengthening the NCE as the foundational qualification for aspiring teachers while creating a structured pathway to degree programmes through the dual mandate framework.
Stakeholders in the education sector believe the policy is designed to ensure that admissions align with the government’s new framework, allowing students to begin with the NCE before progressing to degree qualifications such as the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) and related programmes.
Under the new arrangement, candidates will first enrol in NCE programmes at Colleges of Education. After successfully completing the NCE, graduates can proceed to degree programmes offered directly by the institutions under their dual mandate status.
This development effectively brings to a close the affiliated degree model that enabled Colleges of Education to run university degree programmes through partnerships with conventional universities.
JAMB acknowledged that the decision will affect many candidates who had already applied for degree programmes through affiliated Colleges of Education during the ongoing 2026 admission exercise.
To reduce the impact on affected applicants, the board outlined several available options.
For Direct Entry candidates who selected affiliated Colleges of Education for degree studies, JAMB said they may switch to another institution without charge, transfer to the parent university linked to the programme, or allow their second-choice institution to become their first choice for admission consideration.
The board explained that candidates may also choose to be transferred directly to the university overseeing the affiliated degree programme.
Applicants interested in changing institutions have until June 22 to complete the process.
Similarly, UTME candidates who applied for 100-level admission into affiliated Colleges of Education can change institutions, upgrade their second-choice institution to first choice, or transition to the NCE programme offered by their selected college.
JAMB stated that candidates who choose the NCE option will only need to obtain an O’Level verification code from the relevant examination body and pay a registration fee of N700 through the JAMB portal.
The board noted that candidates may be moved to the NCE programme on the basis that selecting a College of Education already demonstrates an interest in obtaining the NCE qualification.
JAMB further clarified that once a candidate is recommended for admission into an NCE programme, any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry admission process will automatically be suspended.
