By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal Government on Monday unveiled sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s tertiary admissions and examination system, declaring all admissions conducted outside the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) illegal, while also approving new pathways into Colleges of Education and agriculture-related programmes without the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Minister of Education, Dr.

Tunji Alausa, who spoke at the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions in Abuja, warned that institutions bypassing CAPS would face stiff sanctions, including possible suspension of operating licences.

Alausa stressed that admissions conducted outside the approved framework would no longer be recognised by the government, insisting that the era of parallel admission systems had come to an end.

The minister said the reforms were aimed at restoring credibility, transparency and fairness to the nation’s tertiary education system, while ensuring deserving candidates were not denied opportunities through irregular processes.

As part of the new measures, JAMB fixed 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into universities for the 2026 academic session.

The government also approved the exemption of candidates seeking admission into National Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes from sitting UTME, provided they possess at least four credit passes and register with JAMB for screening and processing through CAPS.

The exemption was extended to candidates applying for National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses in polytechnics.

According to Alausa, the policy seeks to widen access to tertiary education, reduce pressure associated with UTME, and boost enrolment in teacher education and agriculture programmes considered critical to national development.

The minister reaffirmed that 16 years remains the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions, noting that the decision balances inclusivity with academic readiness.

He also reiterated the government’s determination to combat examination malpractice through stricter verification systems, digital reforms and improved collaboration with examination bodies.

Meanwhile, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) announced tougher integrity measures for the ongoing 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), being taken by 1,959,636 candidates across Nigeria and neighbouring countries.

Head of WAEC National Office, Amos Dangut, said the council had strengthened its serialisation technology to ensure candidates receive differently arranged questions, thereby reducing opportunities for collusion and malpractice.

Dangut disclosed that the examination, which began on April 21, would end on June 19, adding that more schools adopted the computer-based format this year following the success of the 2025 edition.

WAEC also warned candidates, parents and schools against patronising rogue websites and examination syndicates, stressing that offenders would be prosecuted in collaboration with security agencies.

The process for the 2026/2027 tertiary admissions cycle is set to begin in earnest as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has fixed May 11 for its annual policy meeting, where minimum cut-off marks for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination will be decided.

The development, disclosed in a statement by JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, signals the start of critical decisions that will shape admission processes across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide.

According to the statement, the meeting will take place at the Body of Benchers Auditorium, located within the Institute and Research District in Jabi, Abuja, and will bring together key stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector.

It is expected that the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, will outline major policy directions guiding the upcoming admission exercise.

 “The Board’s annual policy meeting on admissions is a crucial annual gathering where stakeholders decide minimum tolerable UTME marks, admission guidelines, and policies for tertiary institutions.

“Furthermore, the meeting is expected to, in particular, formally set the tone for the 2026/2027 admission exercise while impressing on attendees the need to adhere strictly to stipulated guidelines.

“Attendees at the 2026 meeting would include critical stakeholders such as vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, registrars and their admission officers.

Others are regulatory bodies ranging from the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), among others.”

The gathering is also expected to attract goodwill messages from major agencies within the education ecosystem, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the National Youth Service Corps, alongside other stakeholders.

In addition to policy deliberations, the event will feature the sixth edition of the National Tertiary Admissions Performance-Merit Awards (NATAP-M), aimed at encouraging strict compliance with admission regulations and improving standards across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

With stakeholders set to converge, the outcome of the meeting is expected to provide clarity on admission benchmarks and reinforce guidelines that will govern placements into higher institutions for the 2026/2027 academic session.

Jigawa, Kano and Katsina, have been identified as states with the highest number of out-of-school children crisis as UNICEF stressed that urgent investment in early childhood education remained critical to turning the tide.

According to UNICEF, Nigeria currently accounts for about 18.

3 million out-of-school children, the highest number globally.

An education consultant with UNICEF Kano Field Office, Aisha Abdullahi, disclosed this at a two-day dialogue for journalists from Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states.

She spoke while presenting a paper on foundation learning and skills development, noting that the states alone contribute nearly 30 per cent of the figure, driven by poverty, insecurity, cultural barriers, and poor school readiness.

Abdullahi stressed that Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE) offers a strategic and long-term solution, capable of preventing children from falling out of the education system before they even begin.

She emphasised that tackling the crisis requires a shift from reactive interventions to preventive strategies, with early childhood education forming the bedrock of lifelong learning.

 “Early childhood education is not just a preparatory stage but a strategic intervention to reduce the number of out-of-school children,” Abdullahi said.

According to her, ECCDE targets children from birth to age five, equipping them with essential cognitive, emotional and social skills needed to thrive in formal schooling.

She noted that children exposed to early learning are significantly more likely to enroll in school, stay longer and complete their education, while those who miss such opportunities are twice as likely to drop out.

Abdullahi cited research indicating that nearly 90 per cent of brain development occurs before the age of five, making early learning a critical window for intervention.

Despite policy provisions incorporating one year of pre-primary education into Nigeria’s Universal Basic Education framework, she observed that access to ECCDE remains limited, particularly in rural communities.

She added that areas with functional ECCDE centres record up to 40 per cent higher enrolment into Primary One, alongside improved retention rates.

The UNICEF expert also highlighted the role of early childhood education in advancing girls’ education, noting that early exposure helps delay societal pressures such as early marriage, while strengthening parental engagement, especially among mothers.

However, stakeholders at the dialogue expressed concern over the low involvement of fathers in early learning, revealing that less than 15 per cent actively participate across the region.

They noted that increasing male involvement could cut dropout rates by up to 50 per cent, given fathers’ influence in household decisions, and recommended community advocacy, mosque engagement and structured father-child programmes to bridge the gap.

Despite these efforts, participants called for urgent policy action, including expanding ECCDE across all primary schools, allocating at least five per cent of education budgets to early learning, training more teachers and integrating traditional and religious education systems.

They maintained that strengthening early childhood education through adequate investment and quality delivery remains the most effective pathway to tackling Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis.