NUT Rejects FG Plan to Exempt NCE Candidates from UTME

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed strong opposition to the Federal Government’s proposal to exempt candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education for the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), warning that the move could further weaken the standard of teacher education in the country.

The position was made public by the National President of the union, Audu Titus Amba, during a sensitisation workshop for teachers held in Abuja. The programme was organised by 21st Century in collaboration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), bringing together key stakeholders in the education sector to discuss the future of teaching and learning in Nigeria.

Amba expressed deep concern over what he described as the continuous decline in the quality of candidates gaining admission into Colleges of Education. According to him, the institutions are increasingly being perceived as second-choice destinations for students who are unable to secure admission into universities, a trend he said is damaging the prestige of the teaching profession.

He argued that if Nigeria is serious about improving its education system, then teacher training must be prioritised and made more attractive to high-performing students. He insisted that Colleges of Education should not be reserved for low-scoring candidates but should instead attract some of the best performers in UTME.

Amba questioned the rationale behind removing UTME as an entry requirement for NCE programmes, stressing that such a decision could further reduce competition and lower academic standards. He maintained that no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers, warning that neglecting teacher education would have long-term consequences on national development.