By Abasi Ita
The Federal Government has announced that candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 UTME admission policy meeting.
According to the minister, the new policy will take effect from next year and is aimed at expanding access to teacher education across the country.
Under the new arrangement, candidates with at least four credit passes in relevant subjects can apply directly for admission into Colleges of Education without writing the UTME.
Despite the exemption, prospective applicants are still expected to register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for screening and verification of credentials before admission letters are processed through the Central Admissions Processing System, CAPS.
Alausa explained that available data from JAMB showed that Colleges of Education still have enough capacity to admit more qualified candidates, especially from host communities.
He noted that factors such as affordability, cultural alignment, proximity, and local demand for teacher education continue to make the institutions attractive to many Nigerians.
The minister further revealed that similar exemptions have been approved for candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non technology, agriculture, and agriculture related courses.
According to him, the policy is designed to widen access to higher education while preserving the credibility of the admission process.
He added that the move would reduce the pressure associated with UTME and encourage more students to pursue careers in teaching and agriculture, sectors considered vital to national development.