JAMB EXEMPTS EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE CANDIDATES FROM UTME

In a landmark shift for the Nigerian tertiary education system, the *Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)* has officially announced that candidates seeking admission into Education and *Agriculture-related (non-engineering)* programmes will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

This directive was made public today during the 2026 JAMB Policy Meeting, where education stakeholders gathered to finalize guidelines for the 2026/2027 admission exercise.

I. KEY DETAILS OF THE NEW POLICY

The exemption is strategic and targets specific academic paths to bolster essential sectors of the national economy.

• Affected Programmes:
• All Education programmes (e.g., B.Ed., B.A. Ed., B.Sc. Ed.).
• Agriculture courses that are not engineering-based (e.g., Agronomy, Animal Science, Crop Science).
• Excluded Programmes: Agriculture-related engineering courses (e.g., Agricultural Engineering) still require the UTME.
• Effective Date: This policy applies to the 2026/2027 admission cycle.

II. OBJECTIVES OF THE EXEMPTION

The Board highlighted several critical reasons for this policy change:

1. Increased Enrollment: To encourage more students to enter these vital fields of study.
   1. Professional Shortage: To address the nationwide deficit of qualified teachers and agricultural specialists.
   2. National Development: To promote food security and improve the quality of teaching at the foundational levels of Nigerian education.
   3. Improved Access: To lower the barriers for candidates passionate about these sectors who may be deterred by the standard UTME process.

III. NEXT STEPS FOR CANDIDATES

While the exemption from the examination is immediate, candidates are not yet clear of the admission process.

• Implementation Procedures: JAMB and individual tertiary institutions (Universities, Colleges of Education, and Polytechnics) will soon release specific modalities on how these candidates will be screened.
• Stay Informed: Candidates and parents are strongly advised to monitor JAMB’s official channels and the portals of their chosen institutions for clarification on "Post-UTME" or alternative screening requirements.

IV. POLICY SUMMARY

Signed:
*Management*
*Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)*