NUT WARNS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER UTME WAIVER FOR NCE CANDIDATES
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Agency Report
The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed concern over the Federal Government’s decision to grant a UTME waiver for candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education, warning that the policy may weaken academic standards in the education sector.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had recently announced that applicants for the National Certificate in Education (NCE) programme would no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Instead, candidates with at least four O’Level credits would undergo direct screening, while registration with JAMB remains compulsory.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, NUT National President, Titus Amba, said Colleges of Education should admit only highly capable students to ensure quality teacher training and improved learning outcomes.
He stressed that education at the basic level remains the foundation of all professions, warning that any weakness in teacher preparation would have far-reaching consequences for the entire education system.
Amba argued that removing key assessment points such as UTME could undermine efforts to raise standards in teacher training institutions.
According to him, rather than relaxing entry requirements, government should focus on making the teaching profession more attractive through improved welfare and incentives.
He noted that countries such as Sweden and Finland had strengthened their education systems by investing heavily in teachers’ welfare and working conditions.
The NUT president also lamented the slow implementation of previous promises made to teachers, including improved incentives and a special salary structure announced in 2020.
He further criticised policy inconsistency across administrations, urging the government to prioritise reforms that strengthen teacher development and basic education delivery.
Amba maintained that improving teachers’ welfare remains the most effective way to attract quality candidates into the profession, rather than easing admission standards.
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