The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has unveiled fresh admission guidelines for candidates seeking entry into National Certificate in Education (NCE) and Non-Technology National Diploma (ND Agric-related) programmes for the 2026/2027 academic session.
According to the board, the revised framework is designed to simplify the admission process, strengthen verification procedures, and promote transparency across Colleges of Education nationwide.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who explained that the changes form part of ongoing efforts to improve the credibility and efficiency of Nigeria’s tertiary admission system.
JAMB stated that the new framework seeks to streamline admissions, reinforce verification measures, and ensure greater accountability in Colleges of Education across the country.
One of the major changes introduced under the new guidelines is that all admissions into Colleges of Education will now be processed exclusively through the NCE pathway. The board noted that the previous practice of admitting candidates into affiliated degree programmes through direct 100-level or 200-level entry has been discontinued.
Candidates seeking admission into affiliated institutions will now be required to comply with the updated admission procedures.
The board also made O’Level result verification compulsory for all applicants. Results obtained from WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, and NBAIS must be verified before candidates can complete their registration process.
According to JAMB, the verification requirement is intended to curb the use of fraudulent or unverifiable academic results and enhance the integrity of admissions.
For registration, applicants must first generate a Profile Code using their National Identification Number (NIN), create an account on the JAMB portal, make the necessary payments, and proceed to accredited CBT centres, Professional Registration Centres (PRCs), or Institutional Professional Registration Centres (IPRCs) located in Colleges of Education.
Candidates will also be required to select their preferred institutions and programmes, upload their O’Level results, submit relevant documents, complete biometric registration, and print their registration slips.
JAMB explained that admissions will continue to be processed through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), where institutions will recommend qualified candidates for approval.
The board further warned that candidates awaiting O’Level results will not be considered for admission until their results have been uploaded and successfully verified.
In addition, JAMB announced a special condonement exercise for candidates who were improperly admitted into Colleges of Education during the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.
The board said affected candidates would be given the opportunity to regularise their admissions through a simplified registration and verification process.
JAMB also outlined transition options for applicants who had earlier applied to affiliated Colleges of Education for degree programmes during the 2026 admission cycle.
Such candidates may choose to transfer to the parent universities overseeing the programmes, switch to another institution, activate their second-choice institution, or move into NCE programmes depending on their preference.
According to the board, the reforms are aimed at promoting fairness, accountability, and efficiency within the admission system while expanding opportunities for teacher education and agric-related training programmes.
JAMB urged Colleges of Education, registration centres, and prospective candidates to carefully study and comply with the new guidelines.
The board added that the complete admission guidelines have been made available through its official website, Colleges of Education, the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), accredited CBT centres, JAMB offices nationwide, and other authorised channels.
