Experts, stakeholders flay govt over exemption of education, agriculture non-engineering candidates from JAMB UTME

Adebayo Obajemu 

Experts and stakeholders have expressed mixed reactions to last week’s announcement by The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)  that candidates seeking admission into education-related courses and non-engineering agricultural programmes in Colleges of Education and some polytechnics are exempt from the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

This policy, according to the examination body, is aimed at boosting enrollment in critical sectors. But  experts  have highlighted the need to balance potential increased access against concerns over reduced academic standards

The decision is kernel of  broader reforms to tertiary admission guidelines introduced by JAMB.

The development has ignited a nationwide debate, with some Nigerians hailing it as a necessary reform, while others sound the alarm  it could weaken academic standards in key professional fields. The debate has become fiercer on social media . Here are some of such reactions.

Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani)

Former senator, social critic, Comrade Shehu Sani noted that  the Federal Government’s decision to exempt students seeking admission into Colleges of Education for education and agriculture non-engineering programmes from UTME was a step in the right direction and should be commended.

According to him, the policy has the potential to strengthen the teaching profession, improve the quality of Nigeria’s educational system, and encourage more young people to embrace modern agriculture.

“Exempting Students seeking to study Education and Agriculture from taking the UTME is a rightful and commendable decision.

“It will boost the teaching profession, improve the quality of our educational system and encourage young people into Modern agriculture,” his tweet read.

Alex Onyia (@winexviv)

Alex Onyia, CEO of Educare, said he was fiercely  opposed to  the policy, describing it as a wrong and terrible move that should be reversed immediately.

Opposition To Policy

According to him,  removing UTME requirements for prospective education students would inevitably  lower academic standards and lead to  poorly qualified teachers entering the profession. Onyia noted that instead of that policy government should introduce stricter admission standards, suggesting that only candidates who score above 250 in UTME should be eligible for education programmes.

“This is a very wrong and terrible move. It should be reversed immediately. If this is not reversed, we will have the worst set of teachers teaching our children. Rather it should be that students who score below 250 in UTME should not be admitted to Education Programs,” Onyia wrote on X.

Àgbà John Doe (@jon_d_doe)

X, flayed  the exemption, wondering why  prospective teachers should be excluded from writing UTME. According to him,  instead of removing the exam requirement, government should even raise the bar, it should raise admission cut-off marks to improve standards. He believes  the policy could encourage laziness and further weaken the education system.

“I don’t understand why candidates who are hoping to educate young people should not write UTME? Instead of you to increase the cut off mark for admission, you’re encouraging laziness and ruining our already poor educational system,” his tweet read.

Ifedayo (JIMCRUZ) (@ifedayo_johnson)

Ifedayo Johnson also  frowned at  the decision,  saying  that education programmes should have higher admission standards due to the key role of teachers.

He called for rigorous screening of prospective teachers, warning that lowering entry requirements could undermine the quality of teacher training.

“Education programs should as a matter of fact require higher standards to enter. Do you people realize these are people that will become teachers and train the next generation?”

Mr Jonjor (@MJonjor)

An X user,  stated that the decision could have unintended consequences on the perception of education and agriculture programmes. He said  that exempting candidates from UTME might reduce interest in the courses by making them appear less valued than others. According to him, the policy could also create the impression that academic standards in both fields are being lowered.

“This decision may discourage interest in Education and Agriculture courses, because it could make them appear less valued compared to other programmes. Instead of strengthening these fields, it risks giving the impression that their standards are being lowered.”

An X user, Raybanjs Adesona, criticised the policy, saying that it could weaken the foundation of the education system.

According to him , it’s a mirage to think of building a first-world economy with a third-class entry requirements for teachers, noting that  the exemption risks portraying education as a pity course. He said the decision sets a dangerous precedent for academic standards in the country.

“You can’t build a 1st-world economy with a 3rd-class entry requirement for teachers. We are essentially saying education is a ‘pity’ course. This is a dangerous precedent.”

Senator (@Mainasarahamza)

An X user, criticised the policy, saying it could undermine academic standards rather than improve access.

He questioned whether exempting candidates from UTME for education and agriculture non-engineering programmes amounted to abandoning standards just to fill seats, arguing it could make the disciplines appear less rigorous. According to him, the move risks weakening training quality in both sectors from the foundation level.

“So we’re officially abandoning standards just to fill seats? By exempting these courses, you’re basically shouting that Education and Agriculture are ‘lesser’ disciplines that don’t require rigorous testing. This is how you kill the quality of a sector before it even starts.”

Adeniyi Yemisi (@yemadeniyi) said the policy reflects the urgent need for more professionals in teaching and agriculture. She expressed hope that the exemption would attract more passionate and qualified individuals into both sectors, suggesting that the move could help address workforce shortages in areas critical to national development.

“This shows how badly we need teachers and people in agriculture. Hopefully, this move attracts more passionate and qualified people into those sectors.”

Experts react

Dr. Sesan Agunbiade, an agricultural economist, told Business Hallmark that ” the impression Federal Government is giving is that they want to expand the rate of enrollment in these fields because they are critical to the economy and development, but in reality the unintended consequences is what we are seeing now in terms of public reaction. Instead of encouraging interest because of the waiver, many students will not value these fields thinking that they have no merit and not as important as other courses. It’s like government has devalued them. What government ought to have done was to lower the cutoff for them.

Oluwadare Ojo a retired professor of education welcomed the policy shift, noting that” Whatever criticism of it, I believe the waiver will encourage many to take up the courses. Though people are saying that it will discourage interest, far from it , many prospective JAMBITES will take advantage of the waiver to go for these courses. It’s a good policy.

Recall that at  the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja last recently, Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced that candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education programmes would no longer be required to sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, provided they have the required qualifications.

Alausa declared, “Candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME.”

The Education Minister explained that such candidates are mandatorily required to register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

“However, it is imperative to emphasise that such candidates shall mandatorily register with JAMB, and their credentials shall be duly screened, verified, and certified for the issuance of admission letters through CAPS, in accordance with extant regulations,” the minister stated.

Alausa said the exemption would also apply to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses, noting that the policy is aimed at expanding access to tertiary education while maintaining admission standards.

Alausa noted, “This exemption shall extend to candidates seeking admission into National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.”

“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system.

“It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programmes, both of which are critical to national development,” he added