The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Anambra State chapter, has rejected the Federal Government’s decision to grant admission waivers to candidates seeking entry into Colleges of Education without sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), describing the policy as a dangerous step that could weaken the teaching profession in Nigeria.
The Federal Government recently announced that candidates applying for Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes would no longer be required to sit for UTME before gaining admission into Colleges of Education. The policy was introduced as part of efforts to boost enrolment into teacher-training institutions across the country.
Reacting to the development, the Anambra State Chairman of the NUT, Chika Chukwudozie, said the union strongly opposes the move, arguing that lowering admission standards for future teachers is not the solution to the declining interest in education courses.
According to the union, teaching is a professional career that should maintain high academic standards similar to other respected professions such as law, medicine, and engineering.
The teachers’ body noted that the government should focus on improving teachers’ welfare, salaries, infrastructure, and public perception of the profession instead of relaxing admission requirements.
The policy is non-proactive and capable of lowering the standard of the teaching profession, the union stated during a briefing in Awka, Anambra State.
The Federal Government had defended the waiver, explaining that it was designed to attract more students into Colleges of Education, many of which have reportedly experienced low enrolment in recent years.
Under the new arrangement, candidates with the required O’Level credits can apply directly for admission into NCE programmes without writing UTME, although they are still expected to register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) for proper documentation.
However, education stakeholders and teachers’ unions fear the policy may create the impression that education courses are less competitive or less valuable compared to other tertiary programmes.
Analysts have also warned that reducing entry requirements may affect the quality of teacher training at a time when Nigeria’s education sector is already battling poor learning outcomes, inadequate funding, and shortages of qualified teachers.
The NUT maintained that the real challenge facing Colleges of Education is not the UTME requirement, but the declining welfare and motivation of teachers nationwide.
The debate over the policy has continued to generate reactions across the education sector, with many stakeholders calling on the Federal Government to reconsider the decision and prioritize reforms that will strengthen, rather than weaken, the quality of education in Nigeria.
