Revisit exemption of NCE candidates from UTME, university lecturer tells JAMB, Minister

The recent exemption of National Certificate in Education (NCE) candidates from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination has stirred negative reactions from university lecturers in the education universities.

The candidates write the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

One of them, Joseph Obele, a lecturer at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Rivers State, has called on JAMB and the Federal Ministry of Education to reconsider the recent decision exempting candidates seeking admission into NCE programmes from writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Obele expressed concern that although the policy was aimed at increasing enrollment into colleges of education and encouraging interest in the teaching profession, it may unintentionally weaken academic standards within the nation’s educational system.

According to Obele, the UTME serves as an important assessment mechanism for measuring the academic preparedness, competence, and readiness of candidates seeking tertiary education admission.

He said: “Removing the examination requirement completely for NCE candidates may reduce the quality control process necessary for producing competent teachers in the future.”

The lecturer, who is also an energy expert, further stated that teachers occupy a strategic position in national development, and any admission policy affecting teacher education must be handled with caution, transparency, and proper consultation with stakeholders in the education sector.

He noted that just as society cannot reduce the criteria required to become a pilot or a medical doctor because of the sensitive nature of those professions, the standards for becoming a teacher should also not be lowered.

According to him, teachers are responsible for training future pilots, doctors, engineers, lawyers, and other professionals, therefore the teaching profession deserves equally rigorous standards.

Obele emphasized that the criteria for becoming a teacher should rather be made more rigid in order to uphold future academic standards and protect the integrity of the nation’s educational system.

He further explained that if the admission requirements and training standards for teachers became weak, the quality of teachers produced by the system will also become weak.

Consequently, he said, “The quality of students and graduates produced by such teachers may decline over time, thereby affecting national development and educational excellence.”

While acknowledging the Federal Government’s intention to widen access to education and reduce examination pressure on candidates, Obele advised that reforms should focus more on improving the quality of teacher training institutions, strengthening teaching practice, and providing incentives that will attract qualified students into the profession.

The lecturer also recommended that instead of complete exemption, JAMB and relevant authorities could introduce alternative screening measures or a simplified assessment process to maintain educational integrity while still achieving greater access to NCE programmes.

He recommended that JAMB should retain a standardized assessment process for NCE candidates in order to maintain academic quality and ensure that only qualified candidates are admitted into teacher education programmes.

He also advised the Federal Government to improve the welfare, remuneration, and professional status of teachers so that highly competent students would be encouraged to pursue careers in education.

Obele further recommended regular monitoring, accreditation, and quality assurance measures for colleges of education to ensure that teacher training institutions maintain high academic and professional standards.

He emphasized that educational reforms should prioritize both accessibility and quality assurance in order to sustain public confidence in Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

He urged policymakers, education administrators, lecturers, and professional bodies to engage in broader consultation before the full implementation of the policy scheduled to take effect next year.