The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has voiced strong opposition to the Federal Government's decision to exempt candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
NUT President Expresses Concern
The National President of the NUT, Mr Audu Titus Amba, made this known yesterday in Abuja during a sensitisation workshop for teachers organised by 21st Century in collaboration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). Amba lamented the declining quality of candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education, noting that many of the country's brightest students now prefer universities and other tertiary institutions. He expressed concern that Colleges of Education were increasingly being treated as a last resort for candidates who could not secure admission elsewhere, adding that the trend was affecting the standard and prestige of the teaching profession.
According to him, the situation requires deliberate policies and incentives aimed at attracting highly talented and committed students into teacher education programmes. He stressed that no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. “Why can't we now say that anyone that will be going to the College of Education to become a teacher tomorrow must be the highest-scoring person in UTME? Colleges of Education are supposed to have the highest-scoring candidates in UTME. But unfortunately, we find ourselves in a situation that when you fail to get admission through universities, they will say, 'Go and manage NCE now,'” he said.
TRCN Registrar Calls for Teacher Preparedness
In her keynote address, the Registrar of the TRCN, Dr Ronke Soyombo, stressed the need to adequately prepare teachers for the future, insisting that the success of Nigeria's digital economy depends largely on the competence and capacity of educators across the country. Soyombo called for continuous training, innovation and technology-driven learning in the education sector, noting that preparing learners for the future must begin with preparing teachers. She described educators as the foundation upon which national development rests.
According to her, Nigeria's digital economy requires teachers who are competent, collaborative, creative, technologically empowered and professionally excellent to equip students with relevant skills for the modern world. She added that the future of education goes beyond the provision of devices and internet connectivity, stressing that the real task is transforming teachers into drivers of national growth and development.
Minister of Education Emphasises Capacity Building
Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by Dr Iyabo Ali, emphasised the need for continuous capacity building for teachers. He said educators must be equipped with digital and innovative skills to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global education system.
Other Speakers Urge Collaboration
Other speakers, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by Dr Mary Aba, and the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, urged stakeholders in the sector to prioritise collaboration, continuous learning and professional excellence. They said such efforts would help build an education system capable of preparing Nigerian children for present realities and future challenges. Moro also raised concern over the widening gap between teachers and their teaching environment, stressing that the country's education foundation remained in poor condition. According to him, more than 70 per cent of schools lack an environment that is conducive to effective teaching and learning.
