Anambra Teachers Reject FG Plan to Scrap UTME for Education Courses

The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Anambra State chapter, has strongly opposed the Federal Government’s proposed waiver of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education, warning that the move could weaken standards in the teaching profession.

Speaking during a press briefing in Awka on Saturday, the Anambra State Chairman of the NUT, Chika Chukwudozie, described the policy as “non-proactive” and potentially harmful to the future of education in Nigeria.

The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, recently announced plans to exempt candidates applying for education and some agricultural courses from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) screening process. According to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the decision was aimed at addressing low enrolment into Colleges of Education.

However, the teachers’ union argued that lowering admission requirements is not the right solution to the declining interest in education courses.

Chukwudozie stressed that teaching remains a respected profession and should maintain standards comparable to other professional fields.

 “Teaching is a profession and has the same status as other professions. Therefore, the standard of admission into Colleges of Education should not be cheapened to attract candidates into it,” he said.

The union further warned that making admission into Colleges of Education easier without addressing the root challenges facing the profession could negatively affect the quality of teachers produced in the country.

According to the NUT, the government should instead focus on practical reforms that would make the teaching profession more attractive. These include improved teacher welfare, better salaries, enhanced infrastructure in schools, scholarship opportunities for education students, safer learning environments, and clearer career growth pathways for teachers.

The union also called for improved funding for the education sector and greater professional dignity for teachers through incentives such as housing support, transportation assistance, and access to soft loans.

Chukwudozie noted that if these concerns are properly addressed, more students would naturally develop interest in studying education courses without the need to remove UTME requirements.

The teachers also criticized the manner in which the policy was introduced, arguing that it lacked adequate consultation with stakeholders in the education sector.

The union urged the Federal Government to suspend the policy and engage education professionals, unions, and other stakeholders in developing long-term solutions that would strengthen Nigeria’s education system.

According to the NUT, weakening the standards for those entering the teaching profession could have serious consequences for the nation’s future development, since teachers play a critical role in shaping the next generation.