The Nigeria Union of Teachers has opposed the Federal Government’s proposed plan to exempt candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes from sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The union expressed concerns that removing the UTME requirement could weaken academic standards in teacher education and reduce the quality of graduates entering the teaching profession.
Speaking during a sensitisation workshop for teachers in Abuja, the union’s National President, Audu Amba warned that the policy could further weaken standards in teacher education across the country.
Amba expressed concern over the declining quality of candidates enrolling in colleges of education, noting that many high-performing students now prefer universities while colleges of education are increasingly treated as a last resort.
According to him, teaching should attract some of the best academic minds in the country rather than candidates who failed to secure university admission.
“Why can’t we now say that anyone going to College of Education to become a teacher tomorrow must be among the highest-scoring candidates in UTME?” he asked.
The proposed exemption for NCE candidates has generated mixed reactions among stakeholders in the education sector, with some supporting the move as a way to boost enrollment in colleges of education, while others fear it could affect academic quality.
Education experts have called for broader consultations with stakeholders before any final decision is made on the policy.
