The Lagos State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has strongly opposed the Federal Government’s decision to remove the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education.
The union described the policy as a dangerous step that could weaken the quality of teacher education and lower professional standards in the country’s education system.
The Federal Government had recently announced that applicants for the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme would no longer be required to sit for UTME, provided they possess at least four credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects. The policy, which will take effect from the next admission cycle, is part of broader reforms aimed at expanding access to teacher training and reducing pressure on the UTME system.
However, reacting during its State Executive Council meeting held on Monday, the Lagos NUT rejected the waiver, warning that it could damage the credibility of the teaching profession.
The union argued that lowering entry requirements would attract underprepared candidates into Colleges of Education, ultimately producing teachers with weak subject knowledge and poor instructional skills.
According to the Lagos NUT leadership, teaching should remain a competitive profession that attracts high-performing students, not a fallback option for those unable to gain admission into other fields like medicine, law, or engineering.
They insisted that weakening admission standards would erode public confidence in teachers and negatively affect the quality of basic education across the country.
The union also called on the Federal Government to focus on addressing deeper challenges in the education sector, including poor infrastructure in Colleges of Education, low teacher welfare, and lack of incentives, rather than lowering entry barriers.
The Lagos NUT aligned its position with concerns raised by other stakeholders in the education sector who have warned that the policy could undermine teacher training quality if not properly reviewed.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government maintains that the reform is designed to widen access to education and encourage more students to pursue careers in teaching and agriculture, while still ensuring oversight through JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
The debate over the policy continues to generate mixed reactions among education stakeholders nationwide.
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