By our Reporter
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced that candidates seeking admission into Education programmes and Agriculture-related non-engineering courses will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board disclosed the development on Monday during its ongoing policy meeting on admissions for tertiary institutions across the country.
According to JAMB, the exemption applies specifically to candidates pursuing Education courses and Agriculture programmes outside engineering disciplines.
The decision marks a major change in Nigeria’s admission process, as the UTME has traditionally remained the primary entrance examination for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide.
JAMB’s annual policy meeting is usually convened to determine admission guidelines, including cut-off marks and procedures for the new academic session.
Although certain categories of candidates, such as Direct Entry applicants, have previously enjoyed exemptions, the latest move is regarded as one of the most extensive waivers introduced by the examination body in recent years.
The development is expected to create alternative admission pathways for affected candidates through institutional screening processes and other approved qualifications.
Education and Agriculture courses have historically recorded lower admission competition and cut-off marks compared to highly sought-after programmes such as Medicine, Law, and Engineering.
