FG Grants Autonomy to Colleges of Education to Offer Degree Programmes Without Affiliations

FG Grants Autonomy to Colleges of Education to Offer Degree Programmes

In a major policy shift, the Federal Government has officially commenced the implementation of a new reform that allows Colleges of Education in Nigeria to independently run degree programmes alongside the National Certificate in Education (NCE), without needing university affiliation.

This development was unveiled during a national summit held in Abuja, where the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the move as a groundbreaking moment in Nigeria’s education sector.

According to her, “This is the first time in Nigeria’s educational history that Colleges of Education are legally authorized to offer both NCE and degree programmes concurrently.” She attributed the development to the enactment of the Federal Colleges of Education (Establishment) Act No. 43 of 2023, which empowers these institutions with the legal and operational framework to deliver expanded academic offerings.

Dr. Ahmad emphasized that the new dual mandate will enable the colleges to continue their core mission of training competent teachers, while also broadening their academic capacity to award degrees in education-related fields.

The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, also hailed the reform as a transformative step, noting that the autonomy granted will strengthen teacher training and improve access to quality education.

“For years, degree programmes at Colleges of Education were dependent on partnerships with universities. This reform now gives these institutions the legal and academic independence to run degree courses using their own resources and faculty,” Prof. Okwelle explained.

He also pointed out that the new system will allow students to graduate with both NCE and Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) qualifications, thereby increasing the pool of qualified teachers and retaining talent within the education system.

Hon. Adamu Tanko, Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Colleges of Education, assured that degrees awarded by these colleges will hold the same academic weight as those from traditional universities in Nigeria.

To support this transition, the Ministry of Education pledged continued backing through technical assistance, policy direction, and resource mobilization.

Until now, Nigerian Colleges of Education were limited to NCE training and had to rely on affiliations with universities for awarding degrees. This reform marks a significant step towards self-sufficiency and capacity building in the teacher education sector.