The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the abolition of admissions into affiliated degree programmes operated by Colleges of Education across Nigeria, effectively ending a long-standing arrangement that allowed such institutions to award university degrees in partnership with conventional universities.
The policy shift is contained in the newly released Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and National Diploma (ND) Non-Technology Agric Registration Guidelines for the 2026/2027 academic session, issued under the Office of the Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Registrar of JAMB.
According to the guidelines made available in Abuja on Sunday through the board’s spokesperson, the new directive takes effect from the 2026/2027 academic year and bars any further admission into 100-level or 200-level degree programmes in Colleges of Education via affiliated arrangements.
It states explicitly: “With effect from 2026/7 Session, no admission into 100 or 200 Level is allowed into any College of Education. All entrants are through NCE.”
The board further clarified: “No admission into any affiliated programme in any College of Education from 2026/7 Session.”
Shift Toward Dual Mandate Reform
The decision comes amid the Federal Government’s ongoing Dual Mandate Policy for Colleges of Education, which empowers selected institutions to independently award both the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and bachelor’s degrees.
Education authorities say the reform is designed to streamline teacher education in Nigeria, positioning the NCE as the foundational qualification while creating a structured academic progression into degree programmes such as the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.).
Under the new structure, prospective students will now be required to first enroll in NCE programmes before advancing to degree-level studies after successful completion.
End of Affiliated Degree Era
The policy effectively terminates the decades-old affiliated degree arrangement that allowed Colleges of Education to run university-linked degree programmes through partnerships with accredited universities.
Education stakeholders believe the change is intended to harmonise admission processes and strengthen teacher training standards nationwide.
Options for Affected Candidates
JAMB acknowledged that the new directive will impact thousands of candidates who had already applied for affiliated degree programmes in the 2026 admission cycle.
To mitigate disruption, the board outlined alternative pathways for affected applicants.
Direct Entry candidates who selected affiliated Colleges of Education may transfer their applications to the parent universities, switch institutions without additional charges, or allow their second-choice institutions to be considered as first choice for admission processing.
“A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the Degree programme is affiliated,” the board stated.
Candidates have until June 22 to complete any desired changes.
For UTME candidates applying for 100-level admission into affiliated programmes, options include changing institutions, promoting a second-choice institution to first choice, or switching to the NCE programme of the chosen College of Education.
Those opting for the NCE route will be required to obtain an O’Level verification code and pay a ₦700 processing fee via the JAMB portal.
According to the board, selecting the NCE option implies a formal interest in pursuing teacher education through the certificate pathway.
JAMB also noted that candidates redirected to NCE programmes will have any ongoing degree admission processing suspended.
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