A major shake-up is coming to Nigeria’s teacher education system. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the end of affiliated degree programmes in Colleges of Education, meaning students will no longer be able to earn university degrees through these institutions from the 2026/2027 academic session.

According to new guidelines released by JAMB and obtained by cbinewstv, admissions into affiliated degree programmes run by Colleges of Education will officially cease from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The move marks a significant change in Nigeria’s education landscape, with the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) now becoming the primary route into Colleges of Education.

In the newly released NCE/ND Agric Registration Guidelines issued by the Registrar’s Office in June 2026, JAMB stated clearly that there would be “no admission into any affiliated programme in any College of Education from the 2026/2027 session.”

The Board also announced that direct admissions into both 100 and 200 levels in Colleges of Education have been discontinued.

“With effect from the 2026/2027 session, no admission into 100 or 200 level is allowed into any College of Education. All entrants are through NCE,” JAMB stated.

For decades, affiliated degree programmes allowed Colleges of Education to partner with universities and award bachelor's degrees. However, that pathway is now being phased out for new admissions.

The decision is expected to impact thousands of candidates who had applied for degree programmes through affiliated Colleges of Education for the 2026 admission cycle.

To ease the transition, JAMB has provided several options for affected Direct Entry candidates. Applicants can change their institution free of charge, transfer to the parent university affiliated with their chosen degree programme, or allow their second-choice institution to be upgraded as their first choice for admission processing.

JAMB also disclosed that candidates wishing to make changes have until 22 June to complete the process.

For candidates seeking 100-level admission through UTME into affiliated Colleges of Education, three options are available: switch institutions, elevate their second-choice institution, or migrate to the NCE programme.

Those opting for the NCE route will be required to obtain an O’Level verification code from the relevant examination body and pay a registration fee of **₦700** via the JAMB portal.

Explaining the rationale, the Board noted that candidates who initially selected a College of Education may still be interested in pursuing an NCE qualification.

“The candidate may be moved to the NCE programme of the institution, on the understanding that the choice of the College of Education indicates an interest in pursuing the NCE qualification,” JAMB explained.

JAMB further clarified that choosing the NCE pathway is considered a deliberate admission decision. Candidates who are subsequently recommended for NCE admission will have any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended.

The Board also introduced mandatory O’Level verification for all NCE applicants, with fees set at ₦1,500 for one sitting and ₦2,000 for two sittings.

In addition, Colleges of Education, Institutional Professional Registration Centres (IPRCs), accredited CBT centres and JAMB officials nationwide have been directed to familiarise themselves with the new guidelines and ensure strict compliance.

The policy effectively brings an end to the long-standing system that allowed students to earn university degrees while studying at Colleges of Education through university affiliations.

With this latest reform, JAMB is reinforcing the NCE as the foundational qualification for teacher education in Nigeria.

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