The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced new admission guidelines for the 2026/2027 academic session following its policy meeting held on May 11, 2026.
The regulatory body unveiled several policy changes set to guide admission seekers and tertiary institutions nationwide. Especially in the wake of the high failure rate recorded in the recently concluded 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
JAMB new policies for 2026 Admissions:
New minimum admissible scores for tertiary institutions
- Universities: 150
- Colleges of Nursing: 150
- Polytechnics: 100
Minimum age requirement remains 16 years. JAMB maintained that the minimum entry age into Nigerian tertiary institutions will remain 16, despite previous debates and calls to increase it to 18.
Education and Agriculture (non-engineering) courses are exempt from UTME. Candidates seeking admission into Education-related programmes and non-engineering Agricultural courses may no longer be required to sit for the UTME.
According to JAMB, the decision to retain the age requirement was aimed at accommodating exceptionally gifted younger students.
However, the board came under criticism after publishing a statement that read:
“Entering Age into the Nigerians Tertiary institutions remains 16.”
The wording quickly sparked reactions online, with many social media users mocking the grammatical construction, questioning the professionalism of the board’s communication team.
A user wrote:
“You’re the official body in charge of university admission but can’t even construct one correct sentence. It’s ‘Entry Age into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions.’ Even your handler no fit pass JAMB.”
UTME Exemption for Education and Agriculture Courses Sparks Debate
The exemption granted to Education programmes and non-engineering Agriculture courses has also generated widespread reactions, with many Nigerians expressing concern over what they describe as declining educational standards.
Reacting to the development, one user wrote:
“The two sectors that actually need qualified people the most, teachers and farmers, now don’t need to write an exam? People who will shape young minds and feed the nation don’t need to prove anything? But the person studying ‘Leisure and Tourism Management’ still has to sit for UTME? The priorities are backward. Actually, the whole system is backward.”
Another commenter added:
“We are literally watching the standard of our education fall to its lowest in years.”
JAMB Announces Top 10 UTME Performers
Beyond the policy changes, JAMB also announced the top-performing candidates in the 2026 UTME.
Leading the list is Jesudunsin Owoeye, a 16-year-old candidate from Ekiti State, who emerged as the overall top scorer with an impressive aggregate score of 372.
The 2026 policy meeting was attended by key stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector, including Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, Registrars, and admission officers.
Along with other representatives from regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
As debate continues online, many Nigerians are questioning what these newly approved policies could mean for the future of education and admission standards in the country.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
