The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has explained that the decision to exempt candidates seeking admission into Education and Agriculture-related non-engineering courses from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is aimed at boosting enrolment and addressing critical manpower gaps in the sectors.
Oloyede disclosed this on Monday during the board’s ongoing policy meeting on the 2026 admission exercise, noting that the move forms part of broader reforms to reposition Nigeria’s education and agricultural systems.
The board had earlier announced via its official X handle that candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and Agriculture non-engineering courses would no longer be required to sit for the UTME.
According to Oloyede, the exemption is designed to make the affected courses more attractive to prospective candidates, following years of dwindling interest, particularly in teacher education and agriculture.
He explained that both sectors are vital to national development but have continued to suffer low enrolment despite increasing demand for skilled professionals.
The policy shift comes shortly after the Federal Government scrapped UTME as a requirement for admission into Colleges of Education, where candidates pursuing the Nigeria Certificate in Education are now exempt from the examination.
Stakeholders in the education sector have welcomed the development, describing it as a strategic intervention that could revive interest in teacher training and agricultural studies.
They, however, called for clear guidelines on alternative admission processes to ensure transparency and maintain standards.
As of press time, JAMB had yet to provide comprehensive details on the new admission framework for the affected programmes, but the board assured that further clarifications would be issued at the end of its policy meeting.
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