NUT Rejects UTME Waiver For NCE Admissions, Warns Of Declining Standards
NUT Pushes Back Against New Admission Policy
THE Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has strongly opposed the Federal Government’s decision to waive the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education, warning that the move could undermine academic standards in teacher training.
The policy, recently announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, allows candidates with a minimum of four O-Level credits to gain admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes without sitting for UTME, although registration with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) remains mandatory.
Concerns Over Quality of Teacher Training
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, NUT National President, Titus Amba, argued that removing a key academic screening layer could weaken the quality of entrants into the teaching profession.
According to him, teacher education occupies a foundational role in national development, and any dilution of standards at that level could have far-reaching consequences across all sectors.
“Education is the bedrock of every profession. If the foundation is weak, the entire system suffers,” Amba said.
He stressed that colleges of education should attract top-performing candidates rather than lowering entry barriers, noting that the long-term implications could include poorly trained teachers and declining learning outcomes in schools.
Call for Welfare Reforms Instead of Waivers
Rather than altering admission requirements, the NUT urged the government to address longstanding issues affecting the teaching profession, particularly poor remuneration and working conditions.
Amba maintained that improving teachers’ welfare would naturally attract more qualified candidates into the profession.
He cited countries such as Finland and Sweden, where strong investment in teacher welfare has translated into high-quality education systems.
“Teaching must be made attractive. Incentives, not shortcuts, will bring in the best minds,” he said.
Policy Inconsistency and Unfulfilled Promises
The union also criticised what it described as persistent policy inconsistency in Nigeria’s education sector, recalling unfulfilled commitments made in 2020 to improve teachers’ salaries and introduce special incentive structures.
Amba pointed to institutions like the Federal College of Education in Zuba as examples where expected reforms have yet to materialise.
He warned that without sustained commitment to policy implementation, reforms risk remaining symbolic rather than transformative.
Balancing Access with Quality
While the government’s policy aims to widen access to teacher education and address declining enrolment in colleges of education, the NUT insists that access must not come at the expense of quality.
The union called for a more balanced approach that expands opportunities while maintaining rigorous academic standards and strengthening institutional capacity.
