JAMB Abolishes Degree Admissions in Colleges of Education, Makes NCE Mandatory

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a major change to Nigeria’s tertiary education admission framework, ending fresh admissions into degree programmes offered by Colleges of Education through university affiliations from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The decision, contained in JAMB’s newly released NCE/ND Agriculture Registration Guidelines, effectively brings to an end a long-standing arrangement under which Colleges of Education partnered with universities to offer bachelor’s degree programmes.

Under the new policy, prospective students will no longer be able to apply for degree programmes through affiliated Colleges of Education. Instead, all candidates seeking admission into the institutions must now be admitted through the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme.

JAMB stated unequivocally that there would be “no admission into any affiliated programme in any College of Education from the 2026/2027 session.”

The Board further directed that admissions into 100 and 200-level degree programmes in Colleges of Education should cease immediately.

“With effect from 2026/7 Session, no admission into 100 or 200 Level is allowed into any College of Education. All entrants are through NCE,” the guidelines stated.

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For several years, many Colleges of Education across Nigeria operated degree-awarding programmes through affiliation agreements with universities. Students enrolled and studied in the colleges but received certificates issued by their partner universities upon graduation.

The latest directive means that pathway is now closed to new applicants, marking one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s teacher education sector in recent years.

The policy is expected to affect thousands of candidates who selected affiliated Colleges of Education for degree programmes during the ongoing 2026 admission exercise.

The development follows recent reforms by the Federal Government aimed at revitalising teacher education and increasing enrolment in Colleges of Education.

Earlier, the government approved a new admission framework allowing candidates seeking admission into NCE programmes and some agriculture-related National Diploma courses to gain admission without sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), provided they possess the required O’Level qualifications and complete registration through JAMB.

Education authorities say the reforms are designed to strengthen teacher training institutions and make access to teacher education more attractive to prospective students.

JAMB has outlined several options for candidates already affected by the new policy.

Candidates who applied for affiliated degree programmes through the Direct Entry (DE) route may transfer to another institution without paying a change-of-institution fee, move directly to the parent university supervising the degree programme, or allow their second-choice institution to be processed as their first choice.

According to JAMB, “A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the Degree programme is affiliated.”

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The Board also advised affected candidates to complete any desired changes within the stipulated deadline.

For UTME candidates who selected degree programmes in affiliated Colleges of Education, JAMB said they could change to another tertiary institution, upgrade their second-choice institution to first choice, or transfer to the NCE programme of the selected College of Education.

As part of the reforms, JAMB has introduced compulsory O’Level verification for all NCE applicants.

Candidates presenting results from one examination sitting will pay ₦1,500, while those combining results from two sittings will pay ₦2,000 for the verification process.

The Board explained that the measure is intended to strengthen the credibility and authenticity of credentials used during admission processing.

Candidates opting for migration to NCE programmes will also be required to obtain an O’Level verification code from the relevant examination body and pay a ₦700 processing fee through JAMB’s portal.

JAMB further clarified that candidates who choose the NCE option and are subsequently recommended for admission will automatically have any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended.

“Anyone who chooses NCE and is proposed/recommended would have any ongoing UTME/DE process suspended.”

The Board said the measure is intended to prevent multiple admission processes running simultaneously for the same candidate.

Stakeholders believe the latest policy effectively restores the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) as the primary qualification and admission route into Colleges of Education, reinforcing their original mandate as teacher-training institutions.

Observers also note that the move aligns with broader government efforts to improve the quality of teacher education, streamline admissions and reposition Colleges of Education as specialised centres for producing qualified educators.

JAMB has directed Colleges of Education, Institutional Professional Registration Centres (IPRCs), accredited Computer-Based Test centres and Board officials nationwide to familiarise themselves with the new guidelines and ensure full compliance.

With the implementation of the policy from the 2026/2027 academic session, the era of university-affiliated degree admissions in Colleges of Education will officially come to an end, ushering in a new admission framework centred on the NCE qualification.

JAMB Abolishes Degree Admissions in Colleges of Education, Makes NCE Mandatory

Over 42,000 Foreign Graduates Missing as UK Seeks Recovery of £900m Student Debt

British authorities are grappling with the challenge of recovering billions of pounds in unpaid student loans as tens of thousands of graduates, including many foreign students, have left the United Kingdom without settling their debts.

New figures released by the Student Loans Company (SLC) reveal that more than 42,000 former university students from across Europe have become untraceable after completing their studies in Britain, contributing significantly to a growing student debt crisis.

According to the data, officials are currently attempting to recover outstanding loans worth approximately £3.4 billion from around 121,000 former students, both British and international, who are now living overseas.

The report indicates that foreign students account for nearly £900 million of the outstanding debt, raising concerns among taxpayers and policymakers over the effectiveness of loan recovery mechanisms for graduates residing outside the UK.

Unlike graduates who remain in Britain, overseas borrowers are more difficult to track because authorities cannot rely on domestic tax records to monitor their income and repayment status. This has complicated efforts to enforce repayment obligations among former students who have relocated abroad.

The statistics show that approximately 15,000 graduates with outstanding loans are now living in Australia, while about 7,600 have moved to the United States. Around 5,500 are believed to be residing in Spain and Ireland respectively.

Other destinations with significant numbers of debtors include the United Arab Emirates, which is home to an estimated 5,300 graduates with outstanding loans. The figures also identify about 3,500 debtors each in Bulgaria and Romania, while roughly 1,500 are believed to be living in China.

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The Student Loans Company has consistently maintained that relocating overseas does not exempt borrowers from their repayment obligations. Under the terms of the loan agreements, graduates are required to notify the agency if they intend to live abroad for three months or longer and must provide details of their income to enable appropriate repayment arrangements.

Student loans in the UK are designed to help students cover tuition fees and living expenses while pursuing higher education. Repayments generally begin after graduation once borrowers earn above a specified income threshold.

However, not all former students with outstanding balances are required to make repayments immediately. Individuals who are unemployed, earning below the repayment threshold, receiving certain benefits, or temporarily out of work may not be obligated to make payments until their financial circumstances change.

The growing scale of unpaid overseas debt has drawn criticism from campaign groups and education advocates.

Callum McGoldrick, Investigations Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, expressed concern over the burden placed on taxpayers.

“Taxpayers will be furious to see billions in student loan debt disappearing overseas while they foot the bill. Ministers must get serious about enforcement, or hardworking taxpayers will keep paying the price,” he said.

Similarly, Christopher McGovern, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, argued that the current system requires significant reform.

“Taxpayers are being robbed. Non-UK students should be excluded from loans altogether, and UK students should be required to provide a guarantor of repayment, such as a parent,” McGovern stated.

In response to the criticism, the Student Loans Company emphasized that most borrowers continue to meet their obligations.

A spokesperson for the agency said that the overwhelming majority of customers comply with loan conditions and make repayments through the appropriate channels.

According to the SLC, more than 90 percent of borrowers had a verified residency and employment status during the 2024/2025 period, demonstrating a high level of compliance among former students.

The agency reiterated that all borrowers are required to adhere to the terms of their loans regardless of where they live and stressed that overseas relocation should not be viewed as a means of avoiding repayment.

The issue is expected to remain a subject of debate as the UK government seeks ways to strengthen international debt recovery arrangements while balancing access to higher education for both domestic and foreign students.

Over 42,000 Foreign Graduates Missing as UK Seeks Recovery of £900m Student Debt

300-Level FUBK Student Killed in Hostel Robbery Attack 

The Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) community has been thrown into mourning following the tragic death of Zaharadeen Nuhu, a 300-level Biochemistry student who was killed during a suspected armed robbery attack at his off-campus hostel in Kalgo Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

The victim, who hailed from Niger State, reportedly sustained severe machete wounds after suspected robbers invaded his private hostel residence in Kalgo. Despite efforts to save his life, he succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Confirming the incident, the university’s Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Ibrahim Magawata, described the development as a painful loss to the institution and the entire student community.

“It is with a heavy heart and total submission to the will of Allah that the university management announces the death of our dear student, Zaharadeen Nuhu, a 300-level student of the Department of Biochemistry,” the dean stated in an official circular.

According to the university, the attackers overpowered the student during the late-night invasion, leaving him with life-threatening injuries. He was immediately taken to a medical facility but died in the early hours of Thursday.

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The shocking incident has raised fresh concerns about the security of students living in off-campus accommodations, especially in communities surrounding higher institutions where private hostels often lack adequate security measures.

In response to the tragedy, Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUBK) has intensified security patrols in Kalgo and other off-campus student residential areas. The institution also confirmed that the case has been reported to the Nigeria Police Force in Kalgo Division, with investigations currently underway to identify and arrest those responsible for the attack.

University authorities said discussions would be held with private hostel owners and community stakeholders to strengthen security around student residences. Measures under consideration include improved lighting, enhanced surveillance, stricter access control systems, and the deployment of security personnel in vulnerable locations.

Students have also been urged to remain vigilant, avoid unnecessary late-night movements, and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies and university authorities.

The deceased was laid to rest on Thursday in accordance with Islamic rites following funeral prayers at the Mosque of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Birnin Kebbi.

As tributes continue to pour in, the university management has expressed condolences to Nuhu’s family, friends, classmates, and lecturers, praying for the peaceful repose of his soul.

The tragic death of the 300-level FUBK student has once again highlighted the growing need for stronger security arrangements around off-campus hostels across Nigerian universities, where thousands of students reside while pursuing their education.

300-Level FUBK Student Killed in Hostel Robbery Attack