Anambra teachers JAMB waiver policy criticised as NUT rejects Federal Government move on Colleges of Education admissions

Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Anambra have rejected the Federal Government’s policy granting waivers to candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination system, warning that the move could weaken educational standards in the country.

Also read: Alausa’s controversial JAMB admission policy for Colleges of Education

The Anambra State Chairman of the union, Chika Chukwudozie, made the union’s position known during a press briefing held on Saturday in Awka.

Chika Chukwudozie described the policy as non-proactive and argued that teaching should not be treated as an “all-comers affair” simply to attract more applicants into Colleges of Education.

The Anambra teachers JAMB waiver policy criticism follows the Federal Government’s recent announcement exempting education and some agricultural courses from the normal Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board screening process.

According to the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, the decision was aimed at addressing low enrolment in education-related courses.

However, the teachers’ union insisted that reducing entry requirements was not the right solution to the challenge facing the education sector.

“Teaching is a profession and has the same status as other professions. Therefore, the standard of admission into Colleges of Education should not be cheapened to attract candidates into it,” Chika Chukwudozie said.

The union argued that education remains the foundation upon which all other professions are built and warned that weakening standards in teacher training institutions could have long-term consequences for national development.

According to the NUT chairman, there are more effective and sustainable ways to make Colleges of Education attractive to prospective students.

She identified improved teacher welfare, better salaries, safer learning environments, scholarship opportunities and stronger professional growth structures as key measures capable of restoring interest in the profession.

The union also called for increased investment in education infrastructure and improved access to basic welfare packages such as housing, transportation and soft loans for teachers.

Chika Chukwudozie stressed that policymaking in the education sector should involve broad consultations with professionals and stakeholders before implementation.

She said the speed with which the policy was introduced raised concerns about the level of strategic planning and consultation behind the decision.

“If a policy is properly and adequately formulated with due consultations made, there will be no need to exert energy defending it; rather, it will be convincing and impactful,” she said.

The union reaffirmed its readiness to partner with governments at all levels to improve Nigeria’s education system but maintained that lowering admission standards for teacher training institutions would be counterproductive.

Also read: Lagos Rejects JAMB’s Low UTME Cut-Off Mark

The Anambra teachers JAMB waiver policy debate comes amid wider national discussions over declining enrolment in Colleges of Education and the need to improve the status and welfare of teachers across Nigeria.