Post by Danny Angbashim (@db_angbashim)

“Candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, will no longer be required to sit for the UTME.” - Dr Tunji Alausa, minister of education.

In my opinion setting qualifications for admissions into colleges of education at possession of 4 credit passes and exemption from writing UTME ostensibly to drive admissions in this regard is wrong-headed.

Teachers, highly motivated and quality ones at that, are the bedrock of any society that wants to break barriers particularly in sciences, research, critical thinking and indeed all sectors. But in Nigeria the education sector is, either deliberately, inadvertently or even mischievously, reserved for academically deficient or frustrated candidates who have failed to secure admissions to read every other courses but education.

Elsewhere teaching and civil service jobs are reserved for the brightest and best. This is so because good teachers produce the much needed qualitative (as opposed to quantitative) manpower while the civil service interprets and implements govt policies for steady national development. Indeed the civil service ought to provide the political class with critical thinking for policy formation. And to ensure that they're well remunerated, above country average.

By default we're training our 2nd best to produce half-baked graduates who in turn will prepare potential doctors, engineers, pharmacists, lawyers, scientists, etc. Are we really serious?

Admissions into colleges of education will continue to fall even if the entry is set to just 1 pass because who wants to willingly lock himself up in a sector where the pay is not only terribly poor but is irregular in coming if s/he has a choice?

“Candidates seeking admission into the NCE programme, who possess a minimum of four credit passes, w...

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Comments

Mild Uchenna: The concern is deeper because the education standard in the country is already declining significantly. Lowering entry requirements further without addressing quality, motivation, training, and welfare may only worsen the situation. If the foundation of learning is weak, the effect will eventually r...
Blessing Ojoma Onakpa: While I understand the concern about lowering standards for teacher training, the issue may be deeper than UTME itself. In Nigeria, students already write SSCE exams like WAEC/NECO, then UTME, and many universities still conduct Post-UTME or screening tests. At some point, people begin to question w...
Blessing Ojoma Onakpa: My own opinion is that instead of reducing standards to accommodate mediocrity driven by selfish interests, why not completely remove JAMB and strengthen the credibility and strictness of WAEC or NECO? Students already go through SSCE, then UTME, and still face Post-UTME in many universities. The sy...
Matty: Sensible talk ,so let him act