There is no published ASCETA cut off mark for Early Childhood Care Education for 2027/2028, and under the 2026 rules you do not need a UTME score to be considered. Abia State College of Education (Technical), Arochukwu (ASCETA) runs the course at NCE level, and in May 2026 the Federal Government exempted NCE candidates with at least four O’level credit passes from the UTME. You still register with JAMB, and your offer must come through JAMB CAPS. For this course, credits in English and Mathematics are the results I would protect, because you will teach early reading and number work.
2027/2028 update: ASCETA admission requirements and JAMB’s entry rules for NCE usually stay the same from one year to the next, so the position on this page is what 2027/2028 candidates should plan with. It comes from the latest official position (2026/2027). If the 2027/2028 notice changes anything, we will update this page.
ASCETA has not published a cut-off, a departmental minimum or a screening score for Early Childhood Care Education in any notice I found. This page covers what is official: JAMB’s national rules, how the course sits on JAMB’s ASCETA list, the 2026 NCE registration steps and fees, and my advice, which I label as mine.
ASCETA cut off mark for Early Childhood Care Education at a glance
| Item | Position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ASCETA cut-off or departmental minimum for Early Childhood Care Education | Not published | No ASCETA notice found for 2025/2026 or 2026/2027 |
| UTME for NCE candidates | Not required if you have at least four O’level credit passes | Official (Minister of Education at JAMB’s policy meeting, 11 May 2026) |
| JAMB registration | Still compulsory; admission goes through CAPS | Official (same announcement; JAMB NCE registration guide, June 2026) |
| National minimum for colleges of education (2025/2026) | 100 | Official (JAMB policy meeting, July 2025) |
| Course names on JAMB’s ASCETA list | Early Childhood Care Education (listed on its own, no pairing) | Myschool reprint of JAMB’s course list for ASCETA |
| JAMB NCE fees | ₦3,500 plus ₦700 centre charge, and a ₦1,500 or ₦2,000 verification code | Official (JAMB NCE registration guide, June 2026) |
| Duration | 3 years | Usual NCE length; not confirmed on an ASCETA page |
| ASCETA form fee, screening dates, acceptance fee | Not published | Confirm with the college |
ASCETA Early Childhood Care Education cut-off history
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | No UTME needed | NCE candidates with at least four credit passes exempted from the UTME; JAMB registration and CAPS still required | Official federal policy (11 May 2026) |
| 2026/2027 | None announced | National minimum UTME score for colleges of education | JAMB set 150 for universities and 100 for polytechnics only |
| 2025/2026 | 100 | JAMB national minimum UTME score for colleges of education | Official (Nairametrics report of the July 2025 policy meeting) |
| 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 | Not published | ASCETA’s own minimum for Early Childhood Care Education | No ASCETA figure found |
Some blogs quote a single “ASCETA cut-off mark” for every course. The only official figure was 100, JAMB’s floor for all colleges of education in 2025/2026. I found no ASCETA figure for Early Childhood Care Education, and on the 2026 no-UTME route there is no UTME score to compare.
Do you need JAMB or UTME for Early Childhood Care Education at ASCETA?
You need JAMB. You do not need the UTME, as long as you have at least four O’level credit passes. Four official steps in 2026 set this out:
- 11 May 2026: at JAMB’s policy meeting, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said NCE candidates with a minimum of four credit passes will no longer sit the UTME. They must still register with JAMB, and their results are verified on CAPS before any admission letter is issued. He also said admissions done outside CAPS are illegal.
- June 2026: JAMB published its NCE registration guide. It sets the fees, makes the college propose candidates on CAPS, and says there will be no 100 level or 200 level degree admission into any college of education from 2026/2027, affiliated degrees included. Everyone entering a college of education now comes in through NCE.
- 23 July 2026: JAMB opened NCE registration without UTME at Institutional Professional Registration Centres (IPRCs) in colleges of education and at JAMB centres.
- The start date question: Nairametrics reported on 11 May 2026 that the exemption would take effect from the 2027 admission cycle, while JAMB’s June guide and later reports (Legit, Nairametrics, July 2026) show it already running in 2026. For a 2027/2028 candidate both readings lead to the same place: no UTME for NCE, JAMB registration still required.
What the JAMB NCE registration costs
| Item | Amount (2026/2027) | Who pays it |
|---|---|---|
| O’level verification code, one sitting | ₦1,500 | Every NCE applicant (bought from the exam body) |
| O’level verification code, two sittings | ₦2,000 | Applicants combining two results |
| JAMB NCE application fee | ₦3,500 | New NCE applicants who did not register for the UTME |
| CBT centre or IPRC charge | ₦700 | Every NCE applicant |
| Moving a 2026 UTME registration to NCE | ₦700 only | UTME candidates whose first choice was a college of education |
These are JAMB’s 2026/2027 figures. The 2027/2028 guide may change them, so check the amount at the centre before you pay.
Safe target for Early Childhood Care Education at ASCETA (my advice)
This is my judgement as an admissions adviser. ASCETA has not published any ranking rule.
With no UTME score in the NCE route, a college can only compare applicants on their O’level results. So your grades in English and in the subjects you want to teach carry the weight a UTME score used to carry. This is how I would read your position:
| Your O’level position | My read for ASCETA Early Childhood Care Education |
|---|---|
| Fewer than four credits | Not eligible for the no-UTME route; resit first |
| Four credits, but no credit in English Language | Weak; English is the base of early literacy teaching |
| Five credits including English Language and Mathematics, one or two sittings | Meets the usual college of education standard |
| Five or more credits including English, Mathematics and a science or social science subject, one sitting | Strong. This is what I would aim for. |
If you are also writing the 2027 UTME to keep a university option open, aim for at least 150, the 2026 national minimum for universities. That score is for the university option only. ASCETA’s NCE admission does not depend on it under the 2026 rules.
UTME subject combination and O’level requirements for Early Childhood Care Education at ASCETA
| Requirement | Early Childhood Care Education at ASCETA |
|---|---|
| UTME | Not required for NCE candidates with at least four credits (2026 policy) |
| UTME subjects (only if you register for the UTME) | Use of English and any three subjects. This is JAMB’s usual broad pattern for early childhood and primary education courses; confirm on the JAMB e-brochure. |
| O’level (ASCETA’s own rule) | Not published by ASCETA in any source reached |
| O’level (usual college of education rule) | Five credits at no more than two sittings, including English Language and, in most colleges, Mathematics. General NCCE practice; not confirmed on an ASCETA notice. |
| O’level (2026 federal exemption) | At least four credit passes to be exempted from the UTME (subjects not specified) |
| Exams accepted by JAMB | WAEC, NECO, NABTEB and NBAIS results, checked with a verification code from the exam body |
| Awaiting results | JAMB will not let a college propose a candidate marked Awaiting Results until the result is uploaded |
| Direct Entry | No 100 level or 200 level entry into any college of education from 2026/2027 (JAMB). NCE year one is the only way in |
Notice the gap between the O’level rows. The federal exemption speaks of four credits, while colleges of education have usually asked for five. Until ASCETA publishes its own requirement, I would apply with five credits including English and the subjects you want to teach, so neither rule can be used against you.
How the course appears on ASCETA’s JAMB list
Most ASCETA courses on Myschool’s reprint of JAMB’s list are pairs, such as English / Igbo or Biology / Chemistry. Early Childhood Care Education is listed on its own, with no second subject, and so is Primary Education Studies. So you register for the course name as it stands and do not choose a partner subject.
Because there is no partner subject, there is no single O’level subject the course is built on. That is why I treat English and Mathematics as the two credits to secure: they cover the literacy and numeracy you will teach young children.
| If you are choosing between | What to know |
|---|---|
| Early Childhood Care Education | Focus on children from birth to about the early primary years: care, play-based learning, early literacy and numeracy |
| Primary Education Studies | Also on ASCETA’s JAMB list on its own; aimed at teaching across the primary school years |
| A subject pairing such as English / Social Studies | Trains you to teach two subjects, usually at junior secondary level |
How ASCETA screening and admission works for Early Childhood Care Education
ASCETA has not published a Post-UTME test, a screening fee or screening dates for 2026/2027 in any source I reached. Myschool reported on 4 January 2026 that the college had opened admission into its NCE programmes for 2025/2026. That report grouped departments under the School of General Education, the School of Science Education and the School of Vocational and Technical Education; Early Childhood Care Education was not named in that summary, but it sits on JAMB’s ASCETA list and on the college’s Wikipedia course list. Blog posts from April and May 2026 said sandwich and part-time NCE forms were also on sale, which I could not confirm. The college website, asceta.edu.ng, did not open when I checked, so treat any form price you see online as unconfirmed.
What is official is JAMB’s part. Under its 2026 NCE guide, the college’s admission officer proposes candidates on CAPS, the Provost recommends them, and JAMB checks each candidate’s O’level against the exam body’s own record through the verification code. Only then does the offer appear on CAPS. If you also registered for the UTME and a college recommends you for NCE, JAMB suspends your UTME process.
Worked example for an Early Childhood Care Education applicant (illustrative)
ASCETA has not published an aggregate formula, so there is nothing to multiply. What you can do is test your results against both O’level rules and JAMB’s process. The candidates below are made up to show the checks.
Blessing has one WAEC sitting: English Language C4, Mathematics C6, Biology C5, Civic Education B3, Christian Religious Studies C5, Economics D7.
- Credit count: five credits, above the four-credit federal rule.
- Five-credit check: English and Mathematics are both credits, all in one sitting.
- Course fit: there is no partner subject to match, so her English and Mathematics carry the application.
- Process: a one-sitting verification code (₦1,500), IPRC registration with ASCETA first and Early Childhood Care Education as the course (₦3,500 plus ₦700), then CAPS.
Compare Chinedu: English Language D7, Mathematics C5, Biology C6, Agricultural Science B3, Civic Education C4. He has four credits, enough for the exemption, but no credit in English. For a course built around early reading and talk, I would tell him to rewrite English at NECO or GCE before applying.
Your chances of admission into Early Childhood Care Education at ASCETA
ASCETA does not publish applicant numbers for this course. In my judgement a candidate with credits in English and Mathematics and five credits overall is well placed. Problems usually come from a missing English credit or a verification code that does not match the exam body’s record.
- Secure English and Mathematics: they are the closest thing this course has to core subjects.
- Use the exact JAMB name: Early Childhood Care Education, so CAPS matches your application.
- Make ASCETA your first choice: JAMB sends each NCE registration to the first-choice college.
- Watch CAPS: accept the offer when it appears, then pay acceptance at the college.
How to apply for Early Childhood Care Education at ASCETA, step by step
- Get your JAMB profile code: send NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 from the phone line linked to your NIN. Keep the code JAMB sends back.
- Buy your O’level verification code: from WAEC, NECO, NABTEB or NBAIS. JAMB’s 2026 guide lists ₦1,500 for one sitting and ₦2,000 for two. Write down your exam years, exam numbers and grades exactly as printed.
- Register for NCE at an IPRC or JAMB centre: log in with your profile code, choose NCE registration, pay ₦3,500 plus the ₦700 centre charge, and pick ASCETA as your first choice with Early Childhood Care Education. Your biometrics are captured and you get a registration slip.
- Upload your O’level: enter your results and the verification code at the centre. These are the results CAPS will check, so a missing subject or wrong exam number can hold up your admission.
- Already registered for the UTME? If a college of education was your first choice, JAMB moves your record to NCE. You update your profile with the verification code and pay ₦700 only.
- Complete ASCETA’s own form if the college asks for one: ASCETA has not published its portal or form price in any source I reached. Confirm on asceta.edu.ng or at the admissions office in Arochukwu before paying anyone, and use the same names and results as on your JAMB profile.
- Accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, open Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS. Accept the offer and print your JAMB admission letter. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status.
- Pay the acceptance fee and register: ASCETA has not published its acceptance or school fees in any source I reached. Pay only through the channel on the college’s admission letter or official portal, then complete clearance with your originals.
Warning
The Federal Government has said that any admission done outside JAMB CAPS is illegal and will not be recognised. If someone offers you an ASCETA NCE place that does not show on CAPS, or asks for money to “process” one, walk away.
If you registered for another school and want to switch to ASCETA, read JAMB change of institution. For the 2027 calendar, see when JAMB 2027 registration starts; you still need to register even if you will not write the exam.
Studying NCE Early Childhood Care Education at ASCETA
ASCETA is a state-owned college of education in Arochukwu, Abia State, founded in 1993. Early Childhood Care Education appears on its Wikipedia course list and on JAMB’s ASCETA list. ASCETA has not published which school runs it.
What you study
- Child development: how children grow physically, mentally, socially and emotionally from birth.
- Early learning: play-based teaching, early reading, number work, rhymes, stories and creative activities.
- Care and welfare: child health, nutrition, safety, first aid and working with parents.
- Education courses: educational psychology, curriculum studies and classroom management for young learners.
- Teaching practice: supervised teaching in a nursery or early primary class.
Duration and accreditation
The Nigeria Certificate in Education normally takes three years full time, with teaching practice in a school. ASCETA has not stated the duration on any page I reached. NCE programmes are regulated by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE). I did not confirm the NCCE accreditation status of Early Childhood Care Education at ASCETA, so I am not claiming it. Ask the college for the current status before you pay acceptance.
Careers and further study
- Teaching: nursery, kindergarten and early primary classes in public and private schools.
- Other work: creche and day care centres, running your own nursery school, and child welfare programmes.
- Teacher registration: the NCE is Nigeria’s minimum teaching qualification, and practising teachers register with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
- Degree later: ASCETA was affiliated to Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, and Abia State University for degree programmes, according to Wikipedia. JAMB has stopped new degree admissions into colleges of education from 2026/2027, affiliated ones included, so plan to take your B.Ed or B.A. (Ed) at a university after the NCE.
Related ASCETA courses
- ASCETA cut-off mark for English Language Education
- ASCETA cut-off mark for Mathematics Education
- ASCETA Home Economics Education cut-off mark
- ASCETA Physical and Health Education cut-off mark
If you are also writing the UTME, read how to check your JAMB result and what to do with the score.
Mistakes that cost Early Childhood Care Education applicants an ASCETA place
- Treating it as an easy course with no requirements: it has no partner subject, but you still need credits, with English the most important.
- Choosing Primary Education Studies by mistake: it is a different course on the same JAMB list. Check the name before you submit.
- Waiting for a UTME score: under the 2026 rules NCE candidates with four credits do not need one, and waiting can mean missing the college’s admission window.
- Paying for a form from an unverified link: ASCETA’s portal was not published in any source I reached. Confirm with the college first.
- Accepting on CAPS and stopping there: the acceptance fee and registration at the college are separate steps.
ASCETA cut off mark for Early Childhood Care Education: frequently asked questions
What is the cut off mark for Early Childhood Care Education in ASCETA? ASCETA has not published one. Under the 2026 policy NCE candidates with four O’level credits do not sit the UTME, so there is no UTME cut-off to meet.
What is the JAMB subject combination for Early Childhood Care Education? If you sit the UTME, JAMB’s usual pattern is Use of English and any three subjects. Confirm on the JAMB e-brochure; NCE candidates with four credits do not need the UTME.
Is Mathematics compulsory for Early Childhood Care Education at ASCETA? ASCETA has not published its O’level list. Most colleges of education ask for Mathematics, so I would apply with a credit in it.
How many years is NCE Early Childhood Care Education? NCE courses normally run for three years full time, including teaching practice. ASCETA has not stated the duration on a page I could reach.
Sources and updates
The UTME exemption for NCE candidates with four credit passes, the JAMB registration and CAPS requirement and the warning that admissions outside CAPS are illegal come from the News Agency of Nigeria report of 11 May 2026 on the Minister of Education’s announcement at JAMB’s 2026 policy meeting, also reported by TheNigeriaLawyer the same day. The 2027 start date for the exemption is from Nairametrics (11 May 2026). The fees, verification code, IPRC registration, CAPS proposal and recommendation, Awaiting Results rule, UTME conversion and the end of 100 and 200 level and affiliated admissions into colleges of education come from JAMB’s 2026 NCE and ND registration guide. The 23 July 2026 opening of NCE registration is from Nairametrics, with Legit reporting the same day. The 2025/2026 national minimum of 100 for colleges of education is from Nairametrics, 8 July 2025. ASCETA’s 2025/2026 NCE advert and school list are from Myschool News (4 January 2026); the course names JAMB holds for ASCETA are from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB course list for the college; the founding year, location, course list and university affiliations are from Wikipedia. UTME subjects are JAMB’s usual combination for Early Childhood Care Education and the five-credit rule is general college of education practice; neither was confirmed on an ASCETA notice. ASCETA’s own cut-off, screening details and fees were not published in any source reached. Checked on 29 October 2026; this page will be updated when ASCETA or JAMB publishes the 2027/2028 position.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
