Anambra Teachers Reject FG Plan to Remove UTME Screening for Education Courses

Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Anambra State have opposed the Federal Government’s proposal to grant waivers to candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education without sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The teachers described the policy as one that could weaken the teaching profession and reduce admission standards into institutions responsible for training future educators across the country.

Teachers Warn Against Lowering Standards

Speaking during a press briefing in Awka on Saturday, the Anambra State Chairman of the NUT, Chika Chukwudozie, said the union strongly disagrees with the decision, insisting that teaching is a professional career that should maintain strict entry requirements like other fields.

He explained that removing UTME screening for education-related courses would make Colleges of Education less competitive and could negatively affect the quality of future teachers in Nigeria.

Concerns Over Education Quality

According to the union, education remains the foundation of all professions and should not be treated as a low-entry discipline. The teachers argued that weakening admission standards would eventually produce underqualified teachers, which could affect learning outcomes across schools nationwide.

They also questioned the rationale behind the policy, which was introduced in response to declining enrollment in education courses.

FG’s Position and Policy Context

The policy was announced by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, under the Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria. It proposes exemptions from UTME screening for education and some agricultural courses to encourage more applicants into Colleges of Education.

However, the teachers insist that instead of lowering entry requirements, the government should focus on addressing the root causes of low interest in teaching programs.

NUT Proposes Alternative Solutions

The union outlined several measures it believes would make the teaching profession more attractive without reducing academic standards. These include improved teacher welfare, better salaries, safer school environments, structured career progression, and stronger education infrastructure.

They also called for increased education funding, accessible scholarships for education students, and improved professional benefits such as housing support, transport assistance, and soft loan schemes for teachers.

According to the union, these reforms would naturally increase interest in teaching courses and improve the quality of applicants.

Call for Stakeholder Engagement

The teachers urged the Federal Government to suspend the policy and engage more education stakeholders before making decisions that affect the sector.

They stressed that proper consultation would produce stronger and more effective education reforms capable of improving Nigeria’s long-term development outcomes.

The union also warned that weakening teacher training standards could have long-term consequences for the country’s education system and overall national development.