EDUCATION CRISIS: FG Shuts NTI’S 2026 NCE, Degree Admissions Over Regulatory Violations

The Federal Government has cancelled all 2026 admissions into the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes of the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, citing serious regulatory breaches.

The Ministry of Education also ordered NTI to terminate all university affiliations and degree-awarding arrangements, warning prospective students, parents and the public against applying for the affected programmes or making payments.

In a statement dated November 7, 2026, the ministry said NTI lacked the legal authorisation to award NCE and university degrees. The ban covers full-time, part-time and Distance Learning Studies admissions.

The government attributed the decision to violations of the Ministerial Operational Guidelines issued on September 12, 2025

It further stressed that NCE admissions must comply with Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requirements and accreditation standards set by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has also been directed to notify affected universities and enforce the termination of NTI’s degree-awarding arrangements.

However, existing students may have a lifeline. The NCCE will conduct comprehensive accreditation of existing NCE II-IV distance-learning programmes and study centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Eligible students will be allowed to complete their programmes, subject to accreditation results and regulatory requirements.

The ministry reaffirmed that NTI’s core mandate remains teacher training, retraining and professional development.