The decision by Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to set a 100 out of 400 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) cut-off mark for Colleges of Education (CoEs) has ignited concern over the future of teaching quality in the country.
Introduced during a July 2025 policy meeting with vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts, the policy sets the minimum threshold for entry into CoEs and polytechnics at 100, while universities have a higher benchmark of 150. Although aimed at addressing low enrolment figures in CoEs, critics warn that the move could reinforce declining professional standards in teacher training.
In recent years, most CoEs have adopted the minimum threshold in a bid to fill thousands of vacant seats. In 2025, fewer than 25,000 out of 1.76 million UTME candidates (approximately 1.4%) listed CoEs as their first or second choice. This mirrors 2021 figures, where only 15,747 out of 1.35 million applicants (about 1.2%) opted for the same path.
Despite having over 150 accredited CoEs nationwide, including 21 federal, 49 state, and 82 private institutions, enrolment remains critically low. Some private CoEs reportedly admitted fewer than 10 students in a year, even with quotas above 1,000. Public institutions also struggle. For example, Hill College of Education in Nasarawa State received just 80 applications against a quota of 1,480. Observers argue that while the low benchmark may improve access, it undermines the profession’s integrity.