The National Commission for Colleges of Education has said the newly introduced Dual Mandate Policy for Colleges of Education will help reduce pressure on university admissions and improve teacher education across Nigeria.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja themed “A New Dawn for Teacher Education in Nigeria,” the Executive Secretary of the commission, Angela Ajala, explained that qualified Federal Colleges of Education would now be allowed to independently award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education without affiliation to universities.
According to Ajala, the reform follows the enactment of the Federal Colleges of Education Act signed into law by President Bola Tinubu on July 24, 2023, with full implementation expected to commence in the 2026/2027 academic session.
She stated that the policy is designed to expand access to higher education, reduce overcrowding in universities, strengthen teacher specialisation, and improve institutional autonomy.
Ajala disclosed that the commission is already collaborating with the National Universities Commission to develop modalities for a smooth rollout of the programme and ensure that the quality of degrees awarded by Colleges of Education meets university standards.
Under the proposed structure, students will spend three years in the NCE programme before proceeding to a two-year degree component.
The NCCE boss also noted that state and private Colleges of Education would be permitted to adopt the policy once they align with the approved reform framework.
She clarified that the initiative is not intended to remove the identity of Colleges of Education but rather to strengthen teacher education and elevate the teaching profession.
Ajala further revealed that the commission is reviewing admission processes into Colleges of Education to create a more flexible and professionally responsive framework while maintaining academic standards.
She added that the commission is redesigning the teacher education curriculum to reflect global realities and emerging technologies, with focus areas including digital literacy, artificial intelligence awareness, STEM education, entrepreneurship, inclusive education, emotional intelligence, and competency-based learning.
The NCCE also stressed the need to move beyond compliance-based regulation toward improving learning outcomes and producing competent, future-ready teachers capable of meeting modern classroom demands.
Credit: ThePunch
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.