The Federal Government has commenced the concurrent implementation of Bachelor’s degree programmes alongside the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) across 15 approved Federal Colleges of Education in the country.
This follows the recent assent by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the amended Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, which empowers these institutions to award both NCE and Bachelor’s degrees in Education.
The development was announced by Abel Enitan, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, during a one-day sensitisation programme on ministerial deliverables and the education sector roadmap.
Represented by Julie Uzor, Director of Educational Planning, Enitan said the dual certification model aims to revitalise teacher education and address the challenge of dwindling enrolment in colleges of education.
“This policy allows colleges of education to concurrently award the NCE and Bachelor’s degrees in Education. As outlined in the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, this dual mode enhances access, improves quality, and modernizes teacher training,” he said.
He further disclosed that the Federal Government has approved the establishment of more federal colleges of education to increase access and enrollment opportunities for aspiring educators.
Also speaking at the event, Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), confirmed that implementation was already underway, with preparations in full swing.
“As advertised by JAMB, admissions under the dual mode will begin in the 2025–2026 academic session. Students will now be admitted for both NCE and Bachelor’s degree programmes,” he stated.
Okwelle noted that the amendment to the enabling law provided the legal framework for this policy shift, positioning colleges of education to begin full implementation of the dual certification system. He expressed optimism that the approach would boost enrolment and improve the quality of teacher training across Nigeria.
“With proper pedagogical and content training, our teachers will be better equipped to manage modern classroom challenges,” he added.
Regarding staff welfare, Okwelle disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education, under the directive of President Tinubu, is working to enhance lecturer motivation and capacity through various initiatives.
Uche Uba, Director of Colleges of Education at the ministry, described the policy as a welcome development. She affirmed that the 15 federal colleges already approved for the dual mode are actively engaging with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to ensure a smooth and compliant rollout.
“There is a clear implementation guideline in place. The colleges are liaising with the NUC, and all are following the set conditions to make the process seamless,” she assured.
