FG empowers Colleges of Education to run NCE, degree programmes
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening teacher education by granting Colleges of Education across the country the authority to run both Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree programmes.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, represented by the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Said Ahmad, disclosed this at the National Summit held in Abuja. He described the policy shift as “a historic milestone in Nigeria’s educational development.”
“For the first time in our history, our Colleges of Education have been legally empowered to run NCE and degree programmes concurrently in teacher education disciplines,” he said, referencing the Federal Colleges of Education (Establishment) Act No. 43 of 2023.
According to the Minister, the dual mandate system gives Colleges of Education full legislative and operational authority to broaden their academic offerings while sustaining their core mission of producing highly trained teachers.
Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, hailed the reform as transformative. He noted that, unlike in previous decades when Colleges of Education partnered with universities to run degree programmes, they now have the legal autonomy to do so directly, relying on their own resources, infrastructure, and expertise.
“This will revitalise teacher education, expand access for aspiring teachers, and produce graduates with both NCE and B.Ed qualifications,” Okwelle said.
He added that the policy would also ensure a steady supply of professional educators and help retain skilled manpower within the sector.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Colleges of Education, Adamu Tanko, assured stakeholders that the value of degrees awarded by the Colleges of Education would be on par with those from conventional universities nationwide.
