The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticised the federal government’s decision to exempt candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education from sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), warning that the policy could further erode standards in the teaching profession.
Speaking during a presentation on digital transformation in education at the 21st Century Teacher initiative which held in Abuja, the NUT President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, said teaching should not become a profession reserved for candidates unable to secure admission into other fields.
He said nations that have achieved sustainable development invested heavily in quality teacher training and ensured that the profession attracted some of the brightest minds in society.
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‘Teaching should not be the last resort. I was shocked when the Federal Government announced the removal of UTME requirements for candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education. We must think carefully about the implications of such a policy
‘We should not turn Colleges of Education into testing grounds or alternative routes for candidates who could not gain admission into universities.
‘Instead, we should be saying that those who want to become teachers must be among the best-performing students in the country. If we truly want quality education tomorrow, then we must begin by recruiting intelligent, passionate and competent people into the teaching profession today,’ he said.
The organiser of the 21st Century Teacher initiative, Ayodeji Ogunjobi, said the programme was conceived after discovering that many teachers lacked basic digital skills needed for modern teaching.
‘We cannot expect teachers to move into the new era of education without digital competence,’ he said, adding that educators globally now teach across borders using virtual learning platforms and digital tools.
Representing the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Mrs. Iyabo Ali described the initiative as strategic and timely, noting that the ministry supports efforts aimed at equipping teachers with 21st-century competencies.
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr. (Mrs.) Ronke Soyombo, said outdated teaching methods could no longer meet modern educational demands.