The Federal Government’s decision to exempt National Certificate in Education (NCE) candidates from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has continued to generate debate among Nigerians.
The policy was announced on 11 May by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, during the 2026 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) policy meeting in Abuja.
Under the new arrangement, candidates seeking admission into colleges of education and polytechnics will no longer be required to sit the UTME.
Some education stakeholders and parents have welcomed the move, describing it as a practical approach to improving access to tertiary education.
Dr Lateefat Ligali, a lecturer at Lagos State University (LASU), described the policy as progressive and beneficial for students unable to secure university admission.
She noted that many young people become discouraged or idle after repeatedly failing to meet university admission requirements.
According to Ligali, the exemption would encourage prospective students to explore alternative academic pathways through colleges of education.
Mr Idris Olalekan, a teacher at Idimu Junior High School, also defended the policy, insisting that the quality of teachers depends more on professional training than on entrance examinations.
“The institutional curriculum, rather than an entrance examination, shapes a professional educator,” he said.
A parent and entrepreneur, Mrs Omowunmi Adebayo, said the policy had brought relief to many families struggling with repeated UTME attempts.
She explained that her daughter had written the examination three times without success and could now pursue admission through the new arrangement.
Despite the support, some Nigerians expressed reservations about the policy.
Legal practitioner Mr Ogedi Ogu argued that instead of removing the UTME requirement, the government should focus on scrapping post-UTME screenings conducted by tertiary institutions.
He warned that allowing individual institutions to manage admissions independently could create confusion and weaken uniform educational standards nationwide.
According to Ogu, maintaining a centralised admission examination remains important for safeguarding the quality of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
