The Federal Government of Nigeria has removed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes.
The policy is part of efforts to reform the education sector and make teacher training more accessible across the country.
Under the new arrangement, students applying to colleges of education will no longer need to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination before gaining admission.
The government said the move is aimed at attracting more young Nigerians into the teaching profession and addressing the shortage of qualified teachers.
Education stakeholders described the decision as a major change in Nigeria’s tertiary admission system.
While many welcomed the policy as a way to reduce barriers for students, some experts raised concerns about maintaining academic standards in colleges of education.
The government, however, assured Nigerians that admission processes and screening procedures would still be properly monitored.
Officials added that the reform is part of wider plans to improve the nation’s education system and strengthen teacher development programmes.