By Chioma Favour
The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has said that the newly introduced Dual Mandate Policy for Colleges of Education will significantly reduce pressure on university admissions while strengthening teacher education across Nigeria.
Speaking at 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 will now be empowered to award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education independently, without affiliation to universities.
She said 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 begin in the 2026/2027 academic session.
According to her, the policy is designed to expand access to higher education, reduce overcrowding in universities, improve institutional autonomy, and strengthen teacher specialization in Nigeria.
Ajala disclosed that the NCCE is working closely with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to develop implementation guidelines that will ensure degree programmes offered by Colleges of Education meet university-level standards.
Under the new structure, students will undergo a three-year NCE programme followed by a two-year degree component in education.
She added that state and private Colleges of Education will also be allowed to adopt the policy once they comply with the approved regulatory framework.
The NCCE boss stressed that the initiative is not aimed at removing the identity of Colleges of Education but at strengthening teacher training and elevating the teaching profession.
She further revealed that admission processes are being reviewed to make them more flexible while maintaining academic quality and professional standards.
The commission is also redesigning the teacher education curriculum to align with global trends, with emphasis on digital literacy, artificial intelligence awareness, STEM education, entrepreneurship, inclusive education, emotional intelligence, and competency-based learning.
The NCCE reiterated its commitment to shifting from compliance-based regulation to outcome-driven education that produces competent and future-ready teachers.
