JAMB Takes Over HND Admissions Nationwide from 2026/2027 Session

Follow

( 0 Followers )

X

Follow

E-mail : *

Follow Unfollow

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will take over the processing of Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions nationwide from the 2026/2027 academic session, ending the long-standing practice of polytechnics and other affected institutions conducting the admissions independently.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) announced the new arrangement in a circular dated September 9, 2026, signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, and addressed to rectors and provosts of institutions under its regulatory jurisdiction.

The directive affects polytechnics, allied institutions, colleges of nursing sciences and colleges of health technology, among other institutions offering relevant programmes.

According to the circular, the decision followed a high-level meeting convened by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, involving the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), NBTE and the Federal Ministry of Education.

The government said the objective is to establish a centralised and verifiable admission system and tackle what it described as illegal and compromised admissions that have created difficulties for some HND graduates seeking mobilisation for the NYSC.

“All HND admissions in all institutions shall, from this session, be taken over by JAMB to provide a centralised process and avoid illegal and compromised admissions, jeopardising students’ mobilisation for NYSC after HND,” the NBTE said in the circular.

The development marks a significant expansion of JAMB’s responsibilities in the Nigerian tertiary education system.

Until now, HND admissions were largely handled directly by individual polytechnics and other institutions. JAMB’s established admission mandate had covered programmes such as university first degrees, National Diplomas and Nigerian Certificates in Education, while HND applicants generally obtained admission forms directly from the institutions offering the programmes.

The board had also previously clarified that it was not responsible for HND admissions or admission-related problems encountered by some HND graduates during NYSC mobilisation.

The new policy changes that arrangement, with prospective HND students expected to use JAMB’s centralised digital platform rather than applying solely through individual institutions.

JAMB’s Head of Media and Information, Fabian Benjamin, confirmed the board would implement the directive.

“It’s a directive from above and ours is to comply to ensure that the good intentions of the government are achieved,” Benjamin said.

NBTE is expected to prepare detailed guidelines for the implementation of HND admissions on JAMB’s platform. The guidelines are expected to clarify requirements such as the period ND holders must wait before proceeding to HND, as well as exemptions applicable to certain health-related programmes.

The new arrangement will also affect candidates with NCE qualifications who intend to pursue HND programmes. Under the directive, NCE holders will first be required to obtain a valid National Diploma before applying for HND admission.

The government has also moved to standardise the qualifications used for NYSC mobilisation. The new policy provides that the ND and HND pathway will be the recognised route for affected graduates seeking mobilisation, rather than relying on an NCE-to-HND route.

Part-time admissions are also being brought under tighter central control. The directive places part-time National Diploma admissions under JAMB and limits part-time admissions to 50 per cent of an institution’s approved full-time quota.

The Federal Government has further approved measures to fast-track NYSC mobilisation for students who were legally admitted under the previous system.

The measure is aimed at preventing students who obtained legitimate admissions before the new policy from being disadvantaged by the transition to the centralised system.

NBTE warned institutions against bypassing the new admission arrangement, saying institutions that disregard the directive could face regulatory sanctions, including the possible loss of their operating licences.

The board also stressed that admissions must be restricted to accredited programmes and remain within the approved carrying capacity of each institution.

“With digitisation, there shall be no hiding place for illegal admissions,” NBTE warned.

The government’s move is expected to create a single digital record for HND applicants and students, allowing admission records to be verified and linked more effectively with graduation and NYSC mobilisation data.

However, prospective applicants are still waiting for the detailed implementation guidelines before they can determine exactly how HND applications for the 2026/2027 academic session will be processed, including registration dates, fees and other requirements.

The Federal Ministry of Education is expected to issue a fuller statement on the policy, while NBTE will work with JAMB on the operational guidelines.

For thousands of prospective HND students, the change means that admission into affected programmes will no longer be solely a matter between applicants and individual polytechnics. From the 2026/2027 session, JAMB will become the central gateway for HND admissions nationwide.