The Nigerian government has approved a major reform allowing federal colleges of education to award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and bachelor’s degrees in education.
Set to take effect in September 2025, the dual certification policy is part of efforts to improve teacher training, increase graduate employability, and align educational qualifications with international standards.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who announced the development, described it as a transformative step for Nigeria’s higher education landscape.
The reform follows the enactment of the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, which was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Under the new law, colleges of education that meet the National Universities Commission (NUC) requirements will be permitted to run bachelor’s degree programmes independently.
“This move will make our education graduates more competitive globally while addressing the shortage of professionally trained teachers,” he said.
The Ministry of Education is working closely with the NUC, the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to implement the policy smoothly. Preparations include revising curricula, upgrading faculty qualifications, and realigning administrative structures.
Education experts say the dual certification model could help revive interest in colleges of education, many of which have seen declining enrolment in recent years due to their limited certification options.
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