The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed concern over the Federal Government’s decision to waive the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for candidates seeking admission into Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes
NUT National President, Titus Amba, stated the union’s position on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference on education policy.
On Monday, Tunji Alausa, minister of education, announced that NCE applicants would no longer be required to sit for the UTME.
Under the new arrangement, candidates with at least four O-Level credits would be screened directly for admission, although registration with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) would still remain compulsory.
Amba argued that colleges of education should admit only highly qualified candidates in order to strengthen teacher training and improve learning outcomes.
“Education, especially at primary and secondary levels, is the bedrock of every profession.
“If we fail at that foundation, we fail at every other level of education in the country,” he said.
He warned that removing important testing stages could undermine efforts aimed at raising academic standards in teacher training institutions.
According to him, the government should focus less on waivers and more on making the teaching profession attractive through better welfare and incentives.
“We have been advocating for better working conditions and welfare for Nigerian teachers, yet little progress has been made,” he said.
Amba cited countries such as Sweden and Finland as examples of nations that prioritise teacher welfare and remuneration, leading to stronger education systems.
“They have invested heavily in education, particularly in teachers’ welfare and working conditions,” he explained.
He added that Nigeria could achieve similar success if greater attention was given to basic education and teacher development.
The NUT president also referenced promises made in 2020 by former President Muhammadu Buhari regarding improved teacher incentives and a special salary structure for educators.
“Go to the field and visit colleges of education, such as the one in Zuba, to see what has been implemented,” he said.
Amba criticised policy inconsistency across successive administrations, arguing that many promised reforms in the education sector have not been fully implemented.
He maintained that improving teachers’ welfare — rather than introducing admission waivers — remains the most effective way to attract quality candidates into the teaching profession.