Teachers in Anambra State have criticised the Federal Government’s proposal to exempt candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, arguing that the move could weaken the quality and prestige of the teaching profession.
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Anambra chapter, said the declining interest in education programmes should not be addressed by relaxing entry requirements. Instead, the union believes government should focus on improving the welfare and professional status of teachers.
Speaking in Awka on Saturday, the state NUT chairman, Chika Chukwudozie, said the union was concerned that the policy sends the wrong message about the value of teacher training.
She argued that teaching remains one of the most important professions in society because it produces the workforce for every other sector. According to her, making admission easier by removing a key screening process risks reducing public confidence in teacher education.
While rejecting the government’s approach, the union identified several measures it believes would naturally attract more students to Colleges of Education. These include better salaries, improved working conditions, stronger career progression opportunities, adequate school infrastructure, scholarship programmes and access to housing and low-interest loans for teachers.
The teachers also maintained that educational policies should emerge from extensive consultation with professionals and stakeholders, rather than being introduced without broad engagement.
According to the union, the country’s educational challenges cannot be solved through admission waivers alone. Instead, policymakers should focus on making teaching a more rewarding and respected career choice.
The NUT further warned that any policy capable of reducing the quality of teacher preparation could have long-term consequences for national development, stressing that the future of the education sector depends on maintaining high standards in teacher training institutions.
The union therefore called on the Federal Government to review the proposal and engage education stakeholders in developing reforms that would strengthen, rather than dilute, the teaching profession.
