The Kaduna State branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has voiced its disapproval of the Federal Ministry of Education’s policy that waives the requirement for candidates applying to the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) program to take the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination. This stance aligns with the union’s national executive council’s earlier position, which labeled the decision as detrimental to national progress.
In a joint statement released by Ibrahim Dalhatu (chairman) and Adamu Ayuba Kaltungo (secretary), the union argued that exempting prospective NCE students from the JAMB test would harm the quality of teacher education and, in turn, lower the overall standard of education in Nigeria. The statement emphasized that teaching is a highly intellectual and strategic profession, necessitating rigorous and competitive teacher training processes.
According to the union, such an exemption would reinforce the notion that teaching is meant for academically inferior individuals or anyone interested, further eroding the already low esteem of the profession. This approach, they noted, contradicts international best practices where top-performing education systems recruit teachers from the most talented students.
The union also warned that the policy would undermine ongoing reforms by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) aimed at elevating teaching to a respected profession. Instead of removing JAMB requirements, the Federal Government should focus on improving teacher welfare and salaries to attract high-caliber candidates. They recommended scholarships, bursaries, and other incentives for education students, as well as special admission benefits that do not compromise standards.
Finally, the NUT called for the full implementation of a law signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2022, which they believe can address the issues the government hopes to solve by exempting College of Education candidates from JAMB.