NUT warns UTME waiver for NCE candidates may weaken education standards and teacher quality in Nigeria’s education system

The Nigerian Union of Teachers has warned that the Federal Government’s decision to grant a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination waiver for National Certificate in Education candidates may weaken education standards in Nigeria.

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The position was made public on Thursday in Abuja by the NUT National President, Mr Titus Amba, during a press conference on education policy reforms.

Mr Amba said the policy, which allows NCE applicants with at least four O’Level credits to proceed through direct screening instead of sitting the UTME, could reduce academic rigour in teacher training institutions.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, had recently announced that the new arrangement would still require candidates to register with JAMB but exempt them from writing the examination.

Mr Amba, however, warned that colleges of education must continue to attract highly capable students if Nigeria hopes to strengthen its education system.

He stressed that the foundation of national development rests on strong primary and secondary education, which depends heavily on well trained teachers.

“If we fail at that foundation, we fail at every other level of education in the country,” he said.

The NUT president argued that removing key academic screening points could undermine ongoing efforts to improve teacher training standards across the country.

He urged the government to focus instead on making the teaching profession more attractive through improved welfare, better incentives, and enhanced working conditions.

Mr Amba also referenced international examples, noting that countries such as Sweden and Finland achieved strong education systems by prioritising teachers’ welfare and professional development.

He maintained that Nigeria could achieve similar outcomes if it invests consistently in basic education and teacher development.

He further recalled earlier government promises, including reforms announced in 2020 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, which he said had not been fully implemented.

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The union insisted that sustained investment in teachers’ welfare remained more critical to education reform than admission waivers or policy shortcuts.