The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has rejected the Federal Government’s plan to remove the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme.
The union said the move could weaken the standard of teacher training in the country.
NUT National President, Audu Amba, made the position known in Abuja during a teachers’ workshop organised by 21st Century in partnership with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). He said admission into colleges of education should not be treated as a lower option compared to universities.
He raised concern that many high-performing students now prefer universities, while colleges of education are often left for candidates who could not secure university admission. According to him, this pattern could affect the quality of future teachers in Nigeria.
Amba argued that teaching should attract some of the strongest students, adding that colleges of education should not be seen as a backup choice for those who missed 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.
“Colleges of Education are not dumping grounds. We are supposed to have the best candidates, but unfortunately, when people fail to secure university admission, they are told to go and manage NCE,” he added.
At the same event, TRCN Registrar, Dr Ronke Soyombo, said teachers need stronger digital and professional skills to meet the demands of modern learning and a changing global economy.
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