COEASU Tongue-Lashes FG Over UTME Waiver For NCE Candidates, Demands Reversal
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has berated federal government over the decision to exempt Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) candidates from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), citing a lack of consultation and concerns over teacher quality.
The union has demanded immediate reversal of the policy, arguing that removing the entrance examination lowers academic standards.
The National President of the union, Lawal Bazza, who made the position of the union known at a press conference in Abuja, stressed that major reforms affecting teacher education should involve critical stakeholders.
According to the union leader, while efforts to increase enrollment into colleges of education are commendable, policy decisions must not undermine the quality of teacher training or the future of Nigeria’s education system.
“We have stated that we were not consulted in the discussions that led to the development of this policy or shift.
“We are saying that whenever the government has a policy on ground and is mulling the idea, it must engage critical stakeholders and have a discussion, so that we understand the reason and why policies are being pronounced.
“That is why we always call for a bottom-top approach, not a top-bottom approach.
“We are having an emergency National Officers’ Council meeting with the former president to make a public statement on the position of the union on the matter,” he said.
Bazza emphasised that teacher education remained central to national development and warned that lowering admission standards without proper consultation could have long-term implications for the quality of teachers produced in the country.
Speaking on the outcome of the union’s National Executive Council meeting held between May 6 and 9 at Delta State College of Education, Warri, he reaffirmed support for ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening colleges of education, including implementation of the Federal Colleges of Education Act 2023.
The Act, he said, retains the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) as the minimum teaching qualification.
Bazza said the union endorsed a five-year training structure for student teachers and also announced the successful conclusion of a long-awaited renegotiation agreement with the federal government.
He said the proposed five-year duration under the dual-mandate arrangement would ensure all-round professional development for student teachers through stronger grounding in pedagogy and subject content.
He commended the minister of education, Maruf Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, for efforts toward implementing the Act in line with its original intent.
On industrial relations, he expressed concern over the growing culture of intimidation in some Colleges of Education, alleging that certain provosts punish lecturers for participating in legitimate union activities.
The union president also acknowledged the appointment of the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Angela Ajala.
He revealed that the union had signed a renegotiated agreement with the Federal Government after about 16 years, since the last pact in 2010.
Bazza called on government to expedite negotiations with other education sector unions to prevent disruptions across tertiary institutions, stressing that academic and non-academic workers must operate under harmonised agreements.
He also raised concerns over poor salary structures in several state-owned Colleges of Education, warning that continued payment of what he termed “peanuts” could threaten industrial peace.
“NEC also noted with grave concern and dismay the attitude of some states, like Kwara, Gombe, Osun, Ebonyi, Ogun, Kaduna, Yobe, Oyo, Borno, Adamawa, Abia, and Imo, which are still paying peanuts as salaries in our respective Colleges of Education”, he said.
