JAMB Opens Window to Regularise Illegal Admissions in Colleges of Education

JUST IN: JAMB Opens Window to Regularise Illegal Admissions in Colleges of Education The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced moves to regularise, through a special condonement process, the admissions of some students who were admitted illegally into Colleges of Education outside the approved JAMB admission process. The development follows approval by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa , for the possible condonement of affected candidates admitted during the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions . JAMB has consequently directed Colleges of Education across Nigeria to submit comprehensive lists of affected students for consideration. Who Is Covered? This exercise is specifically for candidates who were already admitted illegally into Colleges of Education during: 2024/2025 academic session 2025/2026 academic session Affected candidates may include those who were admitted: Without their admission being properly processed through JAMB CAPS Without a JAMB registration number With a JAMB registration number but outside the approved admission procedure JAMB's official registration guidelines specifically state that this category concerns 2024 and 2025 intakes and does not cover the 2026 intake . Therefore, candidates should not misinterpret the development as permission for institutions to conduct fresh illegal admissions in 2026. What Does “Condonement of Illegal Admission” Mean? Condonement simply means that JAMB may consider allowing an admission that was originally processed outside the approved system to be formally captured and recognised. This is sometimes loosely referred to by candidates as JAMB regularisation . However, JAMB has over the years maintained that admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions should be processed through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) . An admission offered directly by an institution without being properly processed through JAMB may create serious problems for the student later. Such candidates can encounter difficulties with: Printing a JAMB admission letter NYSC mobilisation Direct Entry applications Scholarship applications Transfer of admission records Verification of admission status Graduation documentation requiring JAMB confirmation The current exercise therefore provides an opportunity for eligible affected students to have their cases considered. JAMB Directs Colleges to Submit Names According to the directive, JAMB has asked Provosts of Colleges of Education to submit a complete list of candidates who were illegally admitted during the affected sessions. The information must be submitted in the prescribed format. JAMB also insists that the information supplied by each institution must be: Accurate Complete Properly verified Officially endorsed by the Provost The Board warned institutions that false declarations or deliberate omissions will not be condoned . This means institutions are expected to take responsibility for identifying the students they admitted outside the approved admission process. Candidates Cannot Simply Add Their Names Themselves Affected students should understand an important aspect of the exercise. The first stage is largely institution-driven . JAMB has asked the Colleges of Education themselves to identify and submit the names of affected students. Therefore, being an illegally admitted student does not automatically mean you can personally place your name on JAMB CAPS. Your institution must first properly disclose and validate your admission where applicable. What Happens After a Candidate Is Identified? JAMB's special registration guideline for affected College of Education students provides a process for candidates whose cases fall within the approved category. Affected candidates will be required to obtain an O'Level Result Verification Code from the relevant examination body. The candidate can then proceed to an approved: JAMB-accredited CBT Centre Professional Registration Centre (PRC) Integrated Professional Registration Centre (IPRC) for the necessary registration process. Candidates under this category cannot use Awaiting Result . Their O'Level result must already be available for verification. JAMB Fee for the Special Registration According to JAMB's guideline for this particular category of affected candidates, the prescribed charges include: Application Registration: ₦3,500 CBT/PRC/IPRC Registration Charge: ₦700 Total: ₦4,200 Candidates should make payments only through approved JAMB channels and authorised centres. Do not pay money to individuals claiming they can “regularise” an illegal admission privately. Candidates Will Select Institutions During the special registration process, affected candidates are expected to select: First Choice Second Choice Third Choice The choices must be Colleges of Education . The candidate's first choice should correspond with the College of Education and programme in which the student was already admitted , subject to the approved JAMB process. This Is Not a General Amnesty for Illegal Admissions This distinction is extremely important. The current exercise should not be interpreted to mean: “JAMB has now approved illegal admission.” It has not. JAMB continues to maintain that admissions processed outside the approved system are illegal. The exercise is instead a special remedial window approved for specific candidates who are already affected. JAMB has repeatedly warned institutions against admitting students outside CAPS. The Board's official admission guidelines state that an admission offer that does not ultimately produce an official JAMB Admission Letter through e-Facility is not recognised as a valid JAMB admission. Why Is JAMB Allowing the Condonement? The major problem with illegal institutional admission is that students sometimes discover the problem only after spending years in school. For example, a student may: Receive admission directly from a college. Pay school fees. Attend lectures. Complete examinations. Reach final year or graduate. Only to discover that the admission was never properly captured by JAMB. At that stage, the student may encounter serious problems with admission verification and NYSC mobilisation. Historically, JAMB has sometimes provided limited condonement windows so innocent students do not bear the entire consequences of irregular admissions carried out by institutions. However, the Board has repeatedly warned that such interventions should not encourage institutions to continue bypassing CAPS. Why Candidates Should Take This Seriously An institution admitting you does not necessarily mean that JAMB has recognised the admission. There are effectively two things candidates should always confirm: 1. School Admission Your institution has offered you admission. 2. JAMB Admission The admission has been properly processed and recognised through JAMB. Ideally, both should agree. A candidate should eventually be able to see the admission on JAMB CAPS and print an official JAMB Admission Letter. How to Know Whether Your Admission Is Properly Recognised Students who are unsure about their admission status should check their JAMB profile. A properly processed admission should eventually allow the candidate to: View the institution View the course Accept the admission where required Print the official JAMB Admission Letter If you have been studying in a tertiary institution but JAMB has no corresponding admission record for you, you should contact your institution's admission office. Are University and Polytechnic Students Included? Based on the current directive being reported, the special ministerial approval specifically concerns: Colleges of Education and candidates illegally admitted during the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 sessions . University or polytechnic students should therefore not automatically assume that this particular exercise applies to them . JAMB has operated other condonement and irregular-admission processes at different times, but candidates must follow the rules applicable to their particular admission category. What About 2026/2027 Candidates? The current special condonement arrangement should not be regarded as covering fresh 2026 admissions . JAMB's guideline specifically describes the affected group as: 2024 and 2025 intakes — not 2026. Candidates seeking admission in 2026 should ensure that their admission is processed through the proper JAMB/CAPS procedure. Do not accept statements such as: “Enter the school first; we will regularise JAMB later.” That can become a serious problem. Important Advice to Students Already in Colleges of Education If you were admitted during the affected sessions and your admission does not reflect properly on JAMB: Do not panic. Instead: Contact your College of Education admission office. Ask whether your name falls under the institution's list of irregularly admitted candidates. Confirm whether your details have been submitted to JAMB. Ensure your O'Level result is available and verifiable. Follow only the instructions issued by your institution and JAMB. Do not patronise unofficial agents. Keep evidence of all payments and registration documents. JAMB Warns Institutions JAMB's decision to provide this window does not remove responsibility from institutions. The Board has repeatedly maintained that CAPS remains the approved platform for tertiary admission processing . Institutions that admit candidates outside the approved procedure expose students to unnecessary difficulties. The new directive therefore provides a possible solution for affected candidates while reinforcing JAMB's warning against future illegal admissions. OGBAdmissionHub Advice This development is particularly important for students who have been attending Colleges of Education but cannot print a valid JAMB Admission Letter or whose admission does not appear correctly on JAMB. If you fall within the 2024/2025 or 2025/2026 College of Education intake , contact your institution immediately and confirm your status. Most importantly, students seeking fresh admission should learn from this situation: Never assume that admission is complete simply because a school gives you an admission letter. Always ensure that your admission is eventually properly captured through JAMB CAPS . A university, polytechnic or college admission that cannot ultimately be verified through the appropriate JAMB admission system can create serious problems later. For verified admission updates, JAMB CAPS guidance, CBT practice and admission tools: 🌐 www.ogbadmissionhub.com OGB Admission Hub — Smart Tools. Real Insights. Better Admission Decisions. The report that triggered this update says JAMB has formally requested the lists from Colleges of Education following ministerial approval, while JAMB’s own current guideline confirms the special category and procedure. ( Punch Newspapers )