FG cancels 2026 NTI admissions, warns public against unauthorised NCE, degree programmes

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The Federal Ministry of Education has cancelled all admissions into the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, for the 2026 academic session over regulatory violations.

The ministry also directed the institute to end all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, stressing that it lacks the legal authority to award NCE certificates and university degrees.

In a statement issued by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the ministry warned prospective students, parents and the general public against seeking admission into the affected programmes.

It explained that the decision followed regulatory breaches involving admissions, accreditation and affiliations with universities.

The ministry further clarified that no fresh admissions into the affected programmes are permitted, whether through full-time, part-time or Distance Learning Studies (DLS).

It therefore urged members of the public not to apply for admission, accept offers or make payments for any NCE or degree programme offered by the institute, warning prospective students against falling victim to unauthorised admission arrangements.

According to the statement, “The directive follows violations of the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued on 12 September 2025. The Ministry clarifies that NCE admissions must comply with applicable Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requirements and accreditation standards of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).”

“The National Universities Commission (NUC) is also to notify affected universities and ensure compliance with the directive on NTI’s discontinued degree-awarding arrangements,” the statement added.

“To protect innocent students already enrolled, the NCCE will conduct comprehensive accreditation of existing NCE II–IV Distance Learning programmes and study centres across the six geopolitical zones. Eligible students may complete their programmes, subject to accreditation outcomes and regulatory requirements, “it further added.

The ministry reiterated that NTI’s statutory mandate remains teacher training, retraining, in-service development and continuous professional development. This includes pedagogical capacity-building and the three-to-six-month Special Abridged Programme for serving teachers with non-education degrees to acquire the professional competencies required for registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), subject to applicable regulations.

The ministry stressed that the intervention is intended to protect students, uphold academic standards and prevent further exposure of prospective applicants to unapproved programmes.

It urged the public to verify programme accreditation and admission status through relevant regulatory authorities and official government channels before making enrolment or payment decisions.