The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has officially ended admissions into affiliated degree programmes run by Colleges of Education, making the Nigeria Certificate in Education the only entry route into such institutions from the 2026/2027 academic session, Peak Newspaper reports.
The decision was contained in JAMB’s newly released NCE/ND Agric Registration Guidelines issued by the Office of the Registrar in June 2026.
According to the Board, “no admission into any affiliated programme in any College of Education from 2026/7 Session.”
JAMB also ruled out direct admission into 100 and 200 levels in Colleges of Education, stating that all fresh entrants into the institutions must now come through the NCE programme.
The policy effectively brings an end to affiliated degree programmes, which had for years enabled Colleges of Education to award university degrees through partnerships with conventional universities.
The development is expected to affect thousands of candidates who had applied for degree programmes through affiliated Colleges of Education for the 2026 admission cycle.
To mitigate the impact of the new policy, JAMB outlined options for affected candidates who had already selected affiliated Colleges of Education for degree programmes through Direct Entry.
The Board said such candidates may apply for a change of institution at no cost, transfer to the parent university to which the degree programme is affiliated, or allow their second-choice institution to become their first choice for admission processing.
“A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the Degree programme is affiliated,” JAMB said.
It added that candidates wishing to switch institutions had until June 22 to complete the process.
Similarly, candidates seeking 100-level admission into affiliated Colleges of Education through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination have been presented with three options: change institution, elevate their second-choice institution to first choice, or migrate to the NCE programme.
