FG Approves Dual Certification for Federal Colleges of Education

In a major policy shift aimed at improving teacher education, the Federal Government has approved a dual certification programme for Federal Colleges of Education across Nigeria. This new initiative allows these institutions to award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s Degrees in Education.

Set to begin in the 2025/2026 academic session (September 2025), the policy (known as the Dual Mandate) was made possible by the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023, recently signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The law grants the colleges the autonomy to run degree programmes independently, without needing to affiliate with universities.

To qualify, colleges must be at least 10 years old and meet the quality standards set by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Only candidates who already hold an NCE will be eligible for admission into the new degree programmes.

The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), in partnership with the NUC, will oversee implementation. Their goal is to ensure the seamless integration of NCE and degree curricula to avoid duplication and raise the quality of teacher training.

According to education stakeholders, the policy is a welcome development. It is expected to improve access to higher education for teachers, address low enrolment in colleges of education, and restore dignity to the teaching profession.