JAMB Exempts Education, Agriculture Applicants from UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced on Monday that candidates applying for education and agriculture programs will no longer be mandated to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This decision was made during a policy meeting held in Abuja regarding admission processes for the 2026 academic session.

JAMB's Registrar, Tunji Alausa, explained that candidates seeking admission into national certificate education programs will now only need to possess a minimum of four credit passes. However, registration with JAMB remains mandatory for all candidates, who will still undergo a credential screening and verification process before receiving admission letters.

This new policy also extends to candidates applying for national diploma programs in agriculture-related courses outside engineering and technology disciplines. The initiative aims to enhance access to tertiary education while preserving the integrity of the admission system, particularly in light of the historically lower admission competitiveness in education and agriculture compared to fields like medicine, law, and engineering.