The Federal Government’s decision to waive the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for candidates seeking admission into Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes has sparked debate among education stakeholders over access, teacher quality and the future of the teaching profession.
Under the new policy, candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education will no longer be required to sit for the UTME. However, they must still register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), undergo screening and verification, and have their admissions processed through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
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The Federal Government said the policy is intended to expand access to tertiary education and increase enrolment in Colleges of Education, which have continued to record low admission figures despite available spaces.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the waiver would help remove barriers preventing qualified young Nigerians from entering teacher-training programmes. He said the policy, alongside the removal of UTME requirements for certain non-technological agricultural National Diploma programmes, could increase tertiary admissions by about 1.5 million.
Under the new arrangement, applicants with at least four relevant O’Level credit passes can seek admission into NCE programmes without writing UTME. JAMB has, however, maintained that the waiver does not mean candidates are exempted from its admission process, as all applicants must still be registered and screened before admission letters are issued through CAPS.
The policy has nevertheless raised concerns among teachers and other education stakeholders who fear that removing a national entry examination could affect the quality of candidates entering the teaching profession.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has expressed reservations about the decision, warning that the waiver could weaken standards if it is not supported by a strong alternative system for assessing candidates. NUT President, Titus Amba, said stakeholders involved in teacher education should have been adequately consulted before such a major policy change was introduced.
Amba argued that teaching requires specialised training and should not be treated simply as an alternative route for young people unable to secure university admission. He stressed that teachers are responsible for shaping future generations and therefore need to meet strong academic and professional standards.
Supporters of the government’s decision, however, argue that the low enrolment in Colleges of Education requires urgent intervention. They believe removing UTME as an entry barrier could attract more young Nigerians into teacher education and help address the country’s need for qualified teachers.
The government has also maintained that the removal of UTME does not amount to the removal of quality control. JAMB’s continued involvement through registration, credential verification and CAPS is expected to provide a framework for monitoring admissions and preventing institutions from admitting unqualified candidates.
The debate therefore centres on whether Nigeria can expand access to teacher education without compromising the standards required to produce competent teachers. While the Federal Government views the policy as a way of opening more opportunities for prospective teachers, critics insist that widening admission must be accompanied by stronger screening, training and professional standards.
As implementation continues, stakeholders are expected to closely monitor the quality of candidates admitted under the new arrangement and its impact on teacher education and the wider Nigerian education system.
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