The Federal Government has initiated a significant reform allowing Colleges of Education across the nation to independently conduct both National Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programs without requiring affiliation with universities.
The initiative was announced on Tuesday at the National Education Summit in Abuja. At the event, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education—represented by Suwaiba Said Ahmad, the Minister of State for Education—praised this development as “a historic milestone in Nigeria’s educational progress.”
“For the first time in our history, our Colleges of Education have been given legal authority to simultaneously offer both NCE and degree programs in teacher education disciplines,” she stated, referencing the Federal Colleges of Education (Establishment) Act No. 43 of 2023.
The minister explained that the reform is based on decades of experience and expertise demonstrated by the institutions.
“The dual-mandate system now gives them complete legislative and operational power to broaden their academic programs, all while maintaining their fundamental mission of developing highly skilled and professional teachers,” she added.
Professor Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), called the reform “historic” and highlighted its potential to rejuvenate teacher education while increasing accessibility for student-teachers.
“For decades, Colleges of Education collaborated with universities to provide degrees. However, today they have gained the autonomy to offer degrees independently, thanks to full legislative support. This allows them to utilize their own resources in terms of manpower, infrastructure, and academic expertise,” he stated.
He emphasized the advantages of the dual mandate, such as producing graduates with both NCE and B.Ed qualifications, ensuring a consistent supply of qualified teachers, and retaining skilled educators within the system.
Hon. Adamu Tanko, the Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Colleges of Education, assured stakeholders that “the degrees awarded by the Colleges of Education will hold equivalent value to those granted by conventional universities throughout the country.”
The Ministry of Education committed to ongoing support by providing policy guidelines, technical assistance, and resource mobilization to ensure successful implementation.
Historically, Colleges of Education in Nigeria were limited to providing only NCE programs and had to partner with universities for degree offerings.
