By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Federal Government has announced that candidates who seek admission into colleges of education will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed the development on Monday during the admission policy meeting for the 2026 UTME held in Abuja.
Alausa explained that applicants with at least four credit passes in relevant subjects can now apply directly to colleges of education without taking the UTME.
He, however, stated that such candidates must still register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for proper documentation and processing.
According to him, the applicants’ credentials will undergo screening, verification and certification before admission letters are issued through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), in line with existing regulations.
The minister also said the new policy will take effect from next year.
The move is expected to widen access to teacher education and encourage more students to enrol in colleges of education across the country.
