The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and Agriculture-related non-engineering courses will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board disclosed the development on Monday during its ongoing 2026 admission policy meeting, describing the move as part of efforts to expand access to tertiary education and address declining enrolment in critical sectors.
In a statement shared on its official X account, JAMB said, “Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME.”
The decision marks one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s tertiary admission framework in recent years. Traditionally, the UTME has served as the mandatory entrance examination for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
The annual policy meeting organised by JAMB determines admission guidelines for tertiary institutions, including minimum cut-off marks, admission quotas, and other regulatory procedures for the academic session.
Although certain categories of candidates, including Direct Entry applicants, previously enjoyed exemptions from the UTME process, the latest waiver considerably broadens the scope of such concessions.
The policy is expected to create alternative admission pathways for prospective students pursuing Education and Agriculture-related courses outside engineering disciplines. Institutions may now rely more heavily on screening exercises, O’Level results, and other admission criteria in assessing applicants.
Education and Agriculture programmes have historically recorded lower application numbers and lower cut-off marks compared to highly competitive courses such as Medicine, Law, Pharmacy, and Engineering.
Analysts say the new policy could help boost enrolment in teacher education and agricultural studies, sectors considered vital to Nigeria’s long-term economic development and food security goals.
