The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has faulted the Federal Government’s proposal to exempt candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The union warned that the move could lower the quality of teacher education and further weaken standards in the teaching profession.
Speaking in Abuja during a teachers’ workshop organised by 21st Century in collaboration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), NUT National President, Audu Amba, said colleges of education should not be treated as alternatives for students unable to secure university admission.
According to him, many outstanding students now prefer universities, while colleges of education are increasingly left for candidates with lower admission prospects, a trend he said could negatively affect the future of education in Nigeria.
Amba stressed that teaching should attract some of the country’s brightest students, insisting that admission into colleges of education must remain competitive.
He questioned why candidates seeking to become teachers should not be among the top scorers in UTME, adding that colleges of education should never be viewed as dumping grounds for unsuccessful university applicants.
The NUT president lamented that many students are often advised to “manage NCE” after failing to gain admission into universities, a mindset he believes continues to damage the image of the teaching profession.
Also speaking at the event, TRCN Registrar, Ronke Soyombo, emphasised the need for teachers to improve their digital knowledge and professional skills to meet the demands of modern education and the evolving global economy.
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