Jelili Gbadamosi
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has announced a new admission regime that will subject Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions in polytechnics and related institutions to centralised processing by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
The directive, contained in a circular dated September 9, 2026, is part of efforts by the Federal Government to curb illegal admissions and resolve challenges affecting graduates’ eligibility for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.
The circular, signed by NBTE Executive Secretary, Prof Idris Bugaje, was addressed to rectors and provosts of polytechnics, colleges of nursing sciences and health technology institutions.
Under the new arrangement, JAMB will handle HND admissions from the current academic session, while the NBTE is expected to develop guidelines that will guide the digital admission process.
The board said the guidelines would address issues including the waiting period required for National Diploma (ND) holders before progressing to HND programmes, as well as exemptions applicable to certain health-related ND programmes.
The development follows a meeting involving Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, JAMB, NBTE, NYSC and the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to the NBTE, the centralised system is intended to ensure that candidates are admitted only into accredited programmes and within approved institutional carrying capacities.
The board also reiterated its position on NCE/HND combinations, warning that NCE holders cannot use the qualification to proceed directly to HND and subsequently qualify for NYSC mobilisation.
Instead, such candidates must secure admission into an ND programme through JAMB and obtain a valid ND before progressing to HND.
The NBTE said only the ND and HND qualifications would be recognised for NYSC mobilisation in such cases.
Meanwhile, the board disclosed that the Education Minister had approved the resolution of outstanding cases involving legally admitted ND part-time and HND full-time students to enable eligible candidates to be mobilised for NYSC.
The new policy also places greater responsibility on heads of institutions, with the NBTE warning that non-compliance could attract regulatory sanctions, including withdrawal of an institution’s operational licence.
The board said the digitisation of the admission process would make it more difficult for institutions to conduct illegal admissions and help strengthen transparency in the country’s technical education system.
