Speaking at a sensitisation workshop for teachers organised by 21st Century in collaboration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in Abuja, NUT National President Audu Amba said the policy risks turning Colleges of Education into dumping grounds for low-performing candidates.
“Why can’t we now say that anyone going to College of Education to become a teacher tomorrow must be among the highest-scoring candidates in UTME?
“Colleges of Education are supposed to have the best candidates, but unfortunately, when people fail to secure university admission, they are told to go and manage NCE,” he said.
Amba argued that the declining quality of applicants to Colleges of Education poses a long-term danger to Nigeria’s education system, insisting that teaching should attract some of the country’s brightest students rather than those who see it as a last resort.
TRCN Pushes Digital Skills as Future of Education Takes Shape
In her keynote address, the Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Dr Ronke Soyombo, stressed the need for urgent reforms in teacher preparation, particularly in adapting to digital learning and modern classroom demands.
She said the survival of Nigeria’s education system depends on teachers who are innovative, technologically skilled, and professionally competent enough to prepare students for a rapidly evolving global economy.
Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa (represented by Dr Iyabo Ali), called for sustained investment in teacher capacity building, noting that continuous upskilling is essential for aligning Nigeria’s education sector with global standards.
Lawmakers and Stakeholders Raise Alarm Over Poor School Conditions
Representatives of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, also called for stronger collaboration among education stakeholders to improve professional standards and learning outcomes.
However, Senator Moro expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of schools nationwide, warning that more than 70 per cent of institutions lack a conducive environment for effective teaching and learning.
He cautioned that the widening gap between teachers and their working conditions threatens the foundation of Nigeria’s education system and could have long-term consequences for national development.