The Nigerian Government has officially commenced the concurrent implementation of bachelor’s degree programmes across 15 approved Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria.
The development was occasioned by President Bola Tinubu’s recent assent to the legislation empowering Federal Colleges of Education to award both the Bachelor’s degrees in education and Nigeria Certificate in Education.
Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, announced the development at a one-day sensitisation programme on ministerial deliverables and the education sector roadmap.
Represented by the Director of Educational Planning, Julie Uzor, Enitan observed that the dual certification model was aimed at revitalising teacher education and addressing dwindling enrollment.
He disclosed that the policy as outlined in the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, enhances access, improves quality, and modernizes teacher training.
The permanent secretary further said the Federal Government had also approved the establishment of more colleges to increase access and enrolment opportunities.
On his part, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education, Prof Paulinus Okwelle, confirmed the rollout, and gave an assurance that the commission was intensifying monitoring and evaluation efforts to support effective implementation.
He noted that the amendment to the Federal Colleges of Education Act in 2023 laid the legal foundation for the dual mode, allowing colleges to begin full implementation.
Okwelle expressed the believe that the approach would boost enrolment as well as improve the quality of teacher training.
