Education News Roundup: What Changed in Nigeria and Abroad This Month

A lot happened in education this past month, at home and abroad. Here's what matters for students, parents and teachers, in plain words. We checked every story against at least one reliable news source, and we've linked them all at the end.

Nigeria

1. JAMB 2027 is planned for March, a month earlier

The Federal Ministry of Education has proposed one combined calendar for all the big 2027 exams. Under it, the UTME would run from 15 to 25 March 2027. NECO would follow from 1 April to 14 May, and WAEC from 11 May to 18 June. The plan is for WAEC and NECO results to be out by August, so universities can start admissions in September.

By our sum, the proposed UTME start is 31 days earlier than in 2026, when it began on 16 April. That's a month less to prepare.

Remember, these are proposed dates. Each exam body still has to confirm its own timetable.

What to do: plan as if JAMB is in March. Our Christmas holiday plan for JAMB 2027 shows how to get ahead.

2. JAMB 2027 registration hasn't opened yet

JAMB says it will only approve computer-based test (CBT) centres that meet its standards for the 2027 UTME. Centres without proper facilities will be turned down. JAMB also warned candidates to check their subject combinations in the official JAMB brochure, not with friends or cybercafé operators.

What to do: ignore anyone selling "early" 2027 JAMB forms. JAMB hasn't announced registration dates. When it opens, use only JAMB's official website. Our JAMB 2027 registration checklist shows what to sort out now.

3. Old admission offers: decide by 30 November

If you were offered admission between 2021 and 2025 and never accepted or rejected it on JAMB's CAPS portal, you have until 30 November 2026. Offers left untouched will change to "Not Admitted", and fixing it later will cost a penalty fee. JAMB extended the deadline after CAPS went down for about four days in late September.

4. WAEC has a Nigerian head, and the private WASSCE went fully computer-based

Dr Amos Dangut, who used to run WAEC's Nigeria office, became WAEC's 14th Registrar and chief executive on 1 October 2026, for five years. Suleiman Kum now leads the Nigeria office.

In October, Mr Kum said more than 56,000 candidates registered for the 2026 WASSCE for private candidates, second series, which is now computer-based. Over 22,000 of them were in Lagos. He said computer-based testing has cut exam cheating. He also said the government is moving against schools that charge more than the official WAEC fee.

What to do: check results only on WAEC's official result website, and ask your school for a breakdown of any exam charges. Our guide on how to tell if a school is overcharging for WAEC and NECO explains how.

5. Student loans are optional

NELFUND, the student loan fund, said no student has to take a loan and warned schools not to make it compulsory. This came after one college told all its students to apply. The loans have no interest, and repayment starts two years after NYSC, capped at 10% of your income.

As of 3 September 2026, NELFUND said it had processed 1,659,853 applications and paid out ₦355.87 billion.

Beware: a fake notice claiming students face life in prison over unpaid loans went round in September. NELFUND marked it fake.

6. Teachers' institute admissions cancelled

On 7 November, the Federal Ministry of Education cancelled all 2026 NCE and degree admissions at the National Teachers' Institute (NTI), Kaduna, including part-time and distance learning. The ministry told the public not to apply, accept offers or pay fees, saying NTI broke its guidelines. Students already on some NCE distance-learning programmes are to have their cases reviewed so they can finish.

What to do: before paying any fees to any school, check that it's approved by the right body: NUC for universities and NCCE for colleges of education.

7. Strikes: some state universities, not a national strike

There's no nationwide ASUU strike. But some university branches have walked out because their state governments haven't implemented the 2025 pay agreement:

• Taraba State University: lecturers began an indefinite strike on 12 October. It was still on as of 21 October.
• LAUTECH, Ogbomoso: lecturers began an indefinite strike on 29 October.
• Lagos State's three universities: the strike was suspended around 10 October, and classes resumed.

Beware: messages claiming a nationwide strike, or that all schools will close from November to March, are false.

8. Universities: four-year courses should take four years

On 13 October, Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa signed new 2026 agreements with polytechnic, college of education and non-teaching staff unions, with allowances backdated to January 2026. He said four-year degree courses must finish in four years.

He has also told federal universities they must justify any new staff hires, and the National Universities Commission (NUC) says it will check on universities after accrediting their courses.

9. More Nigerian universities in world rankings

Times Higher Education's 2027 world rankings include 29 Nigerian universities, up from 24 a year earlier. By our sum, that's about 21% more in one year. Covenant University, the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos lead Nigeria, in the 801–1000 band. The government has also ordered a national ranking of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Abroad

10. UK: more money needed for a student visa from 30 November

From 30 November 2026, students applying for a UK visa must show more money for living costs: £1,570 a month (usually London, up from £1,529) or £1,203 a month (usually outside London, up from £1,171), for up to nine months.

By our sum, for a London course that's £14,130 for nine months, £369 more than before. If you apply before 30 November, the old amounts apply.

11. UK: two-year post-study visa kept for some universities

In its 28 October Budget, the UK said graduates of universities with good compliance and job records would keep a two-year Graduate visa from January 2027. Graduates of other universities would get 18 months. The government hasn't said which universities qualify yet, and the official visa page still shows the 18-month rule from January 2027.

UK universities will also pay a £925 levy for each international student from August 2028.

12. Canada keeps its cap on new international students

Canada's immigration plan for 2027 to 2029 allows up to 150,000 new international students a year. The earlier plan for 2025 to 2027 had 305,900. By our sum, that's less than half.

13. US: a big proposed fee on post-study work

The US government has proposed a $70,000 fee each time a university recommends an international student for OPT, the permit to work in the US after studying, and $30,000 for STEM extensions. It's only a proposal for now, and students already approved wouldn't pay. By our sum, at about ₦1,347 to the dollar, $70,000 is about ₦94 million.

14. Google to switch off AI by default for school accounts

From early 2027, Google will turn off its Gemini AI and Search by default on primary and secondary school student accounts. Schools will have to choose to switch them on. The change starts in the US and will roll out around the world.

Want to know how children should use AI? Read our AI rules for kids.

Watch out for these fakes

• "JAMB 2027 registration has started": false. JAMB hasn't announced it.
• "Nationwide ASUU strike": false. Only some branches are on strike.
• "All schools to close from November to March": false.
• "Students jailed for life over unpaid loans": fake, says NELFUND.

When in doubt, check the official website: jamb.gov.ng, waecdirect.org, neco.gov.ng, nelf.gov.ng or nuc.edu.ng.

Read next: the JAMB 2027 registration checklist, or whether your child abroad should sit WAEC or NECO.