JAMB Drops UTME Requirement for Education and Agriculture-Related Courses

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a major adjustment to its admission policy, exempting candidates applying for Education programmes and selected Agriculture-related non-engineering courses from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to JAMB, prospective students seeking admission into Education disciplines as well as non-engineering Agriculture programmes will no longer be required to sit for the UTME before gaining entry into tertiary institutions.

The board disclosed the development on its official X handle during its ongoing 2026 policy meeting on admissions, stating that the change forms part of broader reforms in Nigeria’s tertiary education entry requirements.

The announcement comes shortly after the federal government revealed the removal of UTME as an admission requirement for candidates applying to Colleges of Education for the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme.

Officials say the policy shift is aimed at easing access to teacher training and agriculture-related studies, while improving enrollment in critical sectors of the education system.