By BANNERNEWS Reporter
Nigeria’s teacher education landscape is set for a major shift as Colleges of Education have now been granted the authority to award Bachelor’s degrees in Education independently, ending decades of compulsory university affiliation.
The new authority flows from the full activation of the dual mandate policy by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), a reform aimed at widening access to professional teacher training and strengthening the standing of Colleges of Education nationwide.
Education authorities say the policy marks a decisive step in repositioning Colleges of Education as autonomous, competitive institutions capable of driving quality teaching and restoring confidence in the nation’s teacher-training system.
The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) formally announced the reform at a review workshop of the 2020 Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) minimum standards held in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Speaking at the event, NCCE Executive Secretary, Professor Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, said the commission is reviewing the NCE minimum standards to align teacher education with national priorities and global trends.
He described the reform as a deliberate and far-reaching effort to reposition Colleges of Education for relevance, quality, and sustainability within Nigeria’s education system.
Okwelle explained that the dual mandate legally empowers Colleges of Education to award Bachelor’s degrees in Education in their own right, a move he said would improve enrollment, institutional credibility, and competitiveness.
According to him, the revised framework will emphasise competency-based training, digital literacy, inclusive education, and practical classroom readiness for future teachers.
He added that the review process is inclusive and consultative, involving key stakeholders in teacher education, policy-making, and development partnerships.
The NCCE boss disclosed that the revised NCE standards will integrate artificial intelligence and digital competencies, supported by curriculum innovation, digital transformation, and partnerships with organisations such as UNESCO and the British Council.
On her part, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmed, called for practical reforms in teacher training, stressing the need to reduce redundancy, strengthen teaching practice and mentorship, and prioritise demonstrable competencies.
She criticised the existing NCE curriculum for being overly theoretical, with weak integration of 21st-century skills such as digital and AI literacy, climate education, inclusive technology, social-emotional learning, and blended learning approaches.
Declaring the workshop open, Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, urged education stakeholders to develop realistic and implementable policies, stressing that reforms must align with available resources to be sustainable.
Governor Sule also announced the implementation of the minimum wage for lecturers and non-academic staff of tertiary institutions in the state, a move expected to boost staff morale and support efforts to reposition teacher education nationwide.
