Minister for Education, Dr Tunji Alausa says a dual mandate allowing colleges of education (COEs) to award both bachelor’s degrees and the National Certificate in Education (NCE) is set for implementation.
Alausa spoke on Tuesday in Abuja during a follow-up meeting on resolutions from the last biannual stakeholders meeting. Advertisement He said the implementation of the dual mandate will now begin in September 2025.
The education minister said it would boost enrolment in COEs and eliminate the need to convert COEs to universities. Alausa said reforms within COEs are important for adapting to modern demands and technological advancements.
He urged educators to integrate technology, critical thinking, and computational skills into their curricula.
“We once had a strong educational system, and that’s what we are working hard to restore. All hands are on deck to achieve this,” he said.
“We must tackle the high number of out-of-school children and reduce learning poverty across the country. As teachers, you are at the centre of driving this change, and you must also challenge yourselves.
“The way we taught 30 or 50 years ago is no longer relevant. Education and teaching methods are evolving. You must start thinking about how to use technology in the classroom.”
Alausa stressed the need for educators to harness educational technology and artificial intelligence to improve teaching and learning outcomes. Addressing declining enrolment in colleges of education, he urged administrators and staff to support the ongoing reforms, warning that the survival of their institutions depends on their ability to adapt.
“With this dual mandate, there is no need for conversion to university status. You should be the ones pushing for implementation, not the other way around. It’s a matter of your survival,” he said.
“The government has secured the future of colleges of education. It is now up to you to sustain them. Failure to embrace this mandate could lead to extinction.
“With this reform, there’s no justification for any college of education to seek university status.”
Recall the mandate was signed into law in 2023 having undergone ideation with numerous committees recommending its adoption. It was to take effect from the 2024/2025 academic session (starting September 2024), where only federal COEs aged at least 10 years were to pilot the programme.
