The Federal Government’s decision to exempt admission seekers into Colleges of Education and Agriculture from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has continued to generate widespread reactions across Nigeria’s education sector, with stakeholders sharply divided over the implications of the policy.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the decision during the annual policy meeting on tertiary admissions after consultations with education stakeholders and relevant agencies.
According to the minister, the exemption is part of broader reforms aimed at expanding access to tertiary education, improving inclusion, and strengthening the integrity of admissions into specialised institutions.
Alausa clarified that although candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education and Agriculture would no longer be required to sit for the UTME, all applicants must still register with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for proper documentation, screening, verification, and admission processing through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
He explained that the exemption also applies to National Diploma programmes in non-technology agricultural and agriculture-related courses.
“This approach strikes a necessary balance between widening access and preserving the integrity of our admission system. It will not only ease the pressure associated with UTME but also encourage greater participation in teacher education and agricultural programmes, both of which are critical to national development,” the minister stated.
He warned institutions against conducting admissions outside CAPS, stressing that violators risk sanctions, including suspension of operating licences and other regulatory actions.
Concerns Over Declining Standards
Despite the government’s justification, the policy has sparked criticism from major stakeholders, many of whom argue that removing the UTME requirement could lower educational standards and weaken the credibility of teacher training in Nigeria.
The National President of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Dr. Lawan Bazza, faulted the policy, insisting that the union was not consulted before the announcement.
Speaking at a recent news conference in Abuja, Bazza stressed that reforms affecting teacher education should involve critical stakeholders to avoid long-term damage to the sector.
“We have stated that we were not consulted in the discussions that led to the development of this policy. Anytime the government has a policy on the ground, it must engage stakeholders so that we understand the reason the policies are being pronounced,” he said.
He warned that lowering admission standards without broad consultation could negatively affect the quality of teachers produced in the country.
While opposing the UTME exemption, Bazza reaffirmed support for ongoing reforms targeted at strengthening Colleges of Education, including implementation of the Federal Colleges of Education Act 2023, which retains the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) as the minimum teaching qualification.
He also disclosed that the union endorsed a five-year training structure for student teachers under the dual mandate arrangement, saying it would ensure stronger grounding in pedagogy and subject content.
According to him, the union recently concluded a long-awaited renegotiation agreement with the Federal Government.
NUT Warns Against Weakening Teacher Training
The Nigeria Union of Teachers also opposed the policy.
The union’s President, Titus Amba, speaking during the 21st Century Teachers Workshop organised alongside the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria in Abuja, warned that the new policy could weaken teacher professionalism if not properly implemented.
Amba lamented that critical stakeholders were not adequately consulted before the policy announcement.
“When you announce that you’ve given a waiver to students going to Colleges of Education, it gives the man walking on the street a different thinking of the seriousness attached to producing credible teachers,” he said.
He argued that removing UTME requirements could create the impression that teaching is a profession open to anyone without rigorous screening and training.
Amba described teaching as a profession that requires commitment and proper preparation, just like medicine, law, and journalism.
According to him, the disappearance of teachers’ training colleges at the secondary level has weakened foundational teacher preparation, leaving many people to enter the profession merely because of unemployment.
“Teaching should not be seen as a stop-gap job. Like medicine, law, or journalism, it requires proper training and commitment,” he stated.
He also called on the government to improve teachers’ welfare, strengthen admission standards, and invest more in teacher education infrastructure and digital learning facilities, especially in rural communities where access to computers and internet services remains poor.
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However, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Dr. Angela Ajala, defended the reform, insisting that Nigerians should not entertain fears over the policy.
According to her, the Dual Mandate reform is designed to provide accredited Colleges of Education with a stronger and more coordinated pathway for teacher education.
She explained that under the continuous five-year NCE-degree model, students would complete a three-year NCE programme before proceeding to an additional two-year degree programme.
“This preserves the NCE as the professional foundation for teacher education while creating a smoother route for those who want to advance into degree certification,” she said.
Ajala maintained that the reform was not a demotion of Colleges of Education but a repositioning aimed at making the institutions more attractive while producing better-prepared teachers.
Experts, Politicians Also Divided
Educationist Dele Olaniyi supported the five-year NCE-degree structure, saying it could improve professional development and strengthen teacher preparation through better grounding in pedagogy and content.
However, he criticised the exemption of NCE candidates from UTME, arguing that the move could portray NCE graduates as inferior because they did not go through the same rigorous admission process as other undergraduates.
“The future of Nigeria’s classrooms depends on the quality of teachers we prepare today,” he said.
Also reacting, the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party for the 2027 election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, condemned the policy, describing it as a deliberate lowering of standards.
“These are not reforms; they are deformations. The lowest-quality people are in government, and they want standards to fall because an educated population asks questions and challenges bad governance,” he said.
Adebayo warned that weakening educational standards could worsen unemployment, insecurity, and social instability in the country.
“You will turn scientists into taxi drivers. You destroy civilisation and insecurity grows because the people who should become innovators are abandoned,” he added.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.