JAMB exempts education, non-engineering agriculture candidates from UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a significant change to Nigeria’s tertiary admission process. Candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and non-engineering Agriculture courses will no longer need to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The update was shared on JAMB’s official X handle on Monday during its annual policy meeting on admissions. In the post, the board stated: “Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME.”

The decision marks a significant shift in the country’s long-standing admission structure, where the UTME traditionally serves as the compulsory entrance examination for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

The policy meeting organised by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board is the annual platform where admission guidelines, including cut-off marks and institutional requirements, are reviewed and set for tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

While UTME exemptions have existed in limited cases—such as Direct Entry candidates and some special categories—the latest waiver is broader, specifically targeting Education and Agriculture-related programmes (excluding engineering fields). The move is expected to open alternative admission routes through institutional screening processes and other academic qualifications.

Education analysts say the change could ease entry into programmes that have historically recorded lower demand compared to highly competitive fields such as Medicine, Law, and Engineering, while also addressing manpower needs in the education and agricultural sectors.

The board is also expected to conclude discussions on the 2026 UTME cut-off marks as part of the ongoing policy meeting.