The Federal Government has confirmed that colleges of education (COEs) in Nigeria will begin implementing a dual mandate enabling them to award both bachelor’s degrees along with the National Certificate in Education (NCE) from September 2025.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, during a follow-up meeting on stakeholder resolutions held on Tuesday, 22 April, in Abuja. The dual mandate, which was signed into law in 2023 following extensive committee recommendations, was initially set for rollout in the 2024/2025 academic session. However, the implementation has now been officially postponed by one year.
Under the new arrangement, eligible federal colleges of education with at least 10 years of operation will be the first to pilot the programme.
Dr Alausa highlighted that the reform is aimed at revitalising the teacher education sector, increasing enrolment in COEs, and discouraging the drive for university conversion. “This initiative is not just about degrees; it’s about securing the future of our colleges of education,” he stated.
The minister stressed the importance of aligning teacher training with current global educational standards, urging COEs to incorporate technology, critical thinking, and computational skills into their curricula. “We must move beyond outdated teaching methods. The classroom of today demands innovation and adaptability,” Alausa added.
In response to the declining number of students enrolling in COEs, Alausa called on administrators and academic staff to actively support the reform. He emphasised that the long-term survival of these institutions depends on their willingness to embrace change.
“With the dual mandate in place, the notion of converting colleges of education into universities becomes obsolete,” he noted. “We’ve secured a clear path forward—now it’s up to the institutions to sustain it.”
This development marks a significant step in Nigeria’s education reform efforts and is expected to play a vital role in addressing both learning poverty and the high number of out-of-school children across the country.
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