The policy, contained in its newly released NCE/ND Agric Registration Guidelines issued in June 2026, signals a major restructuring of how prospective teachers enter tertiary institutions, effectively making the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) the only recognised entry point from the 2026/2027 academic session.
According to the Board, the new directive marks the end of affiliated degree admissions that for years allowed Colleges of Education to award university degrees in partnership with traditional universities.
“No admission into any affiliated programme in any College of Education from 2026/7 Session,” JAMB stated.
The Board further clarified its position on entry levels, noting that the conventional pathways into 100 and 200 levels within Colleges of Education have also been abolished.
“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,” it added.
Major Shift in Teacher Education Structure
The reform represents one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s teacher training framework in decades, with thousands of prospective applicants for affiliated degree programmes expected to be affected in the upcoming admission cycle.
Under the previous system, affiliated programmes enabled students to study in Colleges of Education while ultimately graduating with university degrees through partner institutions. That arrangement will no longer apply to new admissions.
JAMB said the transition is designed to streamline the system and reinforce the NCE as the foundational qualification for teacher education.
Options for Affected Candidates
To ease the transition, the Board outlined several alternatives for candidates already affected by the policy shift, particularly those who selected affiliated Colleges of Education for degree programmes through Direct Entry or UTME applications.
According to JAMB, candidates may either apply for a free change of institution, transfer their application to the parent university affiliated with their chosen programme, or upgrade their second-choice institution to first choice for processing.
“A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the Degree programme is affiliated,” the Board stated.
It added that candidates have been given a deadline of June 22 to complete any necessary adjustments.
For UTME candidates, similar options apply, including the possibility of switching into the NCE programme where desired.
NCE Route Becomes Central Admission Pathway
JAMB emphasised that candidates opting for the NCE track would be formally processed into that programme, with the understanding that their initial selection of a College of Education implies interest in teacher training at the certificate level.
“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,” the Board explained.
It further warned that any candidate recommended for NCE admission would automatically have any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended.
“Anyone who chooses NCE and s/he is proposed/recommended, would have any ongoing UTME/DE process suspended,” it stated.
New Verification and Compliance Requirements
The Board also introduced mandatory O’Level verification for all applicants under the new system, with fees set at ₦1,500 for one sitting and ₦2,000 for two sittings. Candidates opting for the NCE pathway will also be required to obtain verification codes from relevant examination bodies.
For those already processed under the 2026 UTME cycle, JAMB said their records will be automatically migrated to their first-choice Colleges of Education or related programmes where applicable.
Institutions and registration centres were directed 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 stated.
End of an Era for Affiliated Degree Programmes
For decades, affiliated degree programmes served as a hybrid model allowing Colleges of Education to award university degrees in partnership with universities. The new policy effectively ends that structure for new entrants, consolidating teacher education around the NCE qualification as the primary gateway into the profession from the 2026/2027 academic session onward.