President Bola Tinubu has officially launched the Dual Mandate Policy, enabling all Federal Colleges of Education (FCOEs) to concurrently award the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s degrees.
This initiative follows the enactment of the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, which aims to reform teacher education in the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy in Abuja as a significant step towards enhancing the quality of teacher training.
By allowing FCOEs to offer degree programmes alongside NCEs, the government aims to expand access to higher education and enhance classroom instruction nationwide.
Under the new Act, FCOEs meeting the National Universities Commission (NUC) standards are now eligible to operate under the Dual Mandate.
This approach eliminates the need for university affiliations in issuing degrees, granting greater autonomy to FCOEs in curriculum development and implementation.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Professor Paulinus Chijioke, stated that the dual-mode initiative would increase access to teacher education, enabling more students to pursue degree qualifications alongside the traditional National Certificate of Education (NCE).
He also noted that this policy would enhance the teaching profession in Nigeria by attracting dedicated individuals committed to shaping future generations.
In addition to the policy rollout, the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) awarded scholarships totalling N3.5 million to six outstanding students, each representing one of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The selection process was transparent and externally coordinated to ensure fairness.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of teachers and supporting educational development.
He announced that the government would provide additional scholarships to the award recipients through the Federal Scholarship Board.
This development aligns with President Tinubu’s broader educational reforms, including considerations to convert all federal colleges of education into universities of education to address declining enrollment and enhance the quality of teacher training.
