Candidates with four O level credits can now gain NCE admission without UTME

Candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes in colleges of education will no longer be required to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the policy on Monday during the 2026 policy meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board in Abuja.

Under the new guidelines, prospective students will only need a minimum of four O level credits in their school certificate examinations to qualify for admission.

According to the minister, the decision is aimed at easing the administrative burden on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.