FG expands dual-degree system across colleges of education

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has disclosed that most federal colleges of education across Nigeria now operate a dual-mandate system allowing students to graduate with both the Nigeria Certificate in Education and a Bachelor of Education degree.

Alausa made this known on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, describing the initiative as a major reform aimed at improving teacher education and boosting enrolment in colleges of education.

According to the minister, students admitted into the colleges begin with the NCE programme and, after completing three years and meeting university admission requirements, proceed to earn a Bachelor of Education degree within an additional two years.

“Most federal colleges of education today now offer dual-mandate degree programmes. A student enters as an NCE candidate, spends three years, and if they meet the university requirements, they continue for another two years and graduate with both an NCE and a Bachelor of Education degree,” he said.

He explained that the reform, introduced in 2025, was designed to strengthen the future of colleges of education and produce a larger pool of qualified teachers.

Alausa noted that about 28 federal colleges of education had already commenced the programme, while several state-owned colleges were preparing to implement the system from the 2026 academic session after amending their enabling laws.

According to him, nearly 18 states have already revised their legislation to adopt the dual-mandate structure.

The minister added that students who fail to meet the O’level requirements needed for degree admission after completing the NCE programme would graduate with only the NCE qualification.

“If you don’t meet those requirements, you terminate at NCE. But the key thing is opening up access and creating a stronger pool of teachers,” he stated.

Alausa compared the arrangement to the transition pathway from national diploma programmes in polytechnics to university degree programmes, stressing that the initiative would improve both access and quality in teacher training nationwide.