The Federal Government has unveiled a sweeping reform in Nigeria’s tertiary education admission system, announcing that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam will no longer be a mandatory requirement for gaining entry into higher institutions.
The new policy, introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and overseen by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, aims to make university, polytechnic, and college admissions more accessible to students across the country.
This initiative seeks to simplify the admission process for the millions of candidates who sit for JAMB annually but are unable to secure placement due to the exam’s stringent requirements.
Institutions to Admit Students Using SSCE Results
Under the revised system, tertiary institutions can now admit students based on their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results.
For university admissions, applicants must obtain at least five credits in relevant subjects, including English language. Mathematics will only be compulsory for science, technology, and social science disciplines.
For National Diploma (ND) programs in polytechnics, a minimum of four credits, including English Language, is required, while Higher National Diploma (HND) candidates must have five credits, including both English and Mathematics.
According to the Ministry of Education, this policy is intended to remove unnecessary hurdles and provide equal opportunities for students seeking higher education.
However, officials emphasized that JAMB and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are not being scrapped entirely. Instead, the new system reduces JAMB’s role as the exclusive admission gateway, allowing institutions to independently admit students using SSCE results such as WAEC or NECO.
