The Federal Government has commenced the implementation of Bachelor’s Degree programmes in 15 approved Federal Colleges of Education across Nigeria, signifying a significant transformation in the nation’s teacher education framework.
This development comes on the heels of President Bola Tinubu’s recent approval of legislation that empowers Federal Colleges of Education to award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education, under the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023.
During a one-day sensitisation programme held in Abuja on Tuesday — centred on ministerial deliverables and the education sector roadmap — the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan (represented by Director of Educational Planning, Julie Uzor), announced the new directive.
Enitan explained that the dual certification initiative aims to reform teacher education, broaden access, enhance training quality, and respond to the challenge of declining enrollment in education courses.
“This policy allows Colleges of Education to concurrently award both the NCE and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education. It modernises teacher training and expands opportunities,” he said.
He noted that the government is also taking steps to establish more colleges, in a bid to widen access and boost enrollment across the country.
“The amendment to the law in 2023 laid the legal groundwork. We’re fully prepared for the rollout,” Okwelle stated.
He further noted that monitoring and evaluation structures are being reinforced to ensure the success of the programme, expressing optimism that the initiative will improve enrollment figures and raise the overall quality of teacher training nationwide.
“With proper pedagogical and content-based training, our teachers will be better equipped for modern classroom challenges,” he said.
Speaking on the process of implementation, Dr. Uche Uba, Director of Colleges of Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, stated that the 15 selected colleges are collaborating closely with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to fulfil the conditions necessary for their new degree-awarding status.
“There’s a clear implementation guideline in place, and all participating colleges are following the set conditions to ensure a smooth transition,” Uba said.
She described the initiative as a “welcome development” that aligns with the federal government’s broader education reform agenda.
Prof. Okwelle also addressed concerns about lecturers’ welfare, assuring that measures are underway to motivate and support academic staff, with backing from both the Federal Ministry of Education and the minister’s office, in accordance with President Tinubu’s directive.
