JAMB Ends Degree Admissions at Colleges of Education From 2026/2027, Makes NCE Sole Route
Updated
Updated · msmeafricaonline.com · Jun 18
JAMB Ends Degree Admissions at Colleges of Education From 2026/2027, Makes NCE Sole Route
3 articles · Updated · msmeafricaonline.com · Jun 18
Summary
From the 2026/2027 session, JAMB will stop processing new admissions into university-affiliated degree programmes at Nigeria’s Colleges of Education and require all entrants to come through the NCE pathway.
The board also scrapped direct entry into 100 and 200 levels at those colleges, saying the change is meant to reinforce the NCE as the foundation for teacher training.
2026 applicants already targeting affiliated degree programmes can switch institutions free, move to the parent university, promote a second-choice school, or migrate to NCE within their selected college.
NCE applicants must complete compulsory O’Level verification—costing ₦1,500 for one sitting or ₦2,000 for two—and those moved to NCE must also pay a ₦700 registration fee.
The overhaul ends a long-running affiliation model used by thousands of candidates and marks one of Nigeria’s biggest recent shifts in teacher-education admissions.
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NCE as the New Gatekeeper: Nigeria’s 2026 Overhaul of Teacher Education Admissions
Overview
Starting from the 2026/2027 academic session, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will require all aspiring teachers to first obtain the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) before pursuing further teacher education at Colleges of Education. This major policy change ends both direct admissions and the long-standing affiliated degree programmes, which previously allowed students to earn university degrees while studying at Colleges of Education. The reform aims to streamline teacher training, reinforce foundational skills, and ensure that all future teachers receive dedicated pedagogical preparation before advancing to higher qualifications.