𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦: 𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝘁 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 5-𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗡𝗖𝗘-𝗗𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗢𝗳 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐭𝐚, 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚.

In a major boost for teacher education in Nigeria, the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has approved the full implementation of a Continuous Five-Year NCE–Degree Programme for Colleges of Education operating the Dual Mandate system.

The new academic structure, which will take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, follows ministerial directives issued by the NCCE on May 5, 2026.

Under the new arrangement, students will spend three years obtaining the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and proceed seamlessly into a two-year degree programme, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree after a total of five years.

The development means that qualified NCE graduates will no longer need to begin afresh or undergo complicated admission processes before earning a degree. Instead, they will move directly into 300 Level within the same institution and academic structure.

Education stakeholders have described the initiative as a landmark reform that will strengthen the NCE qualification as the minimum teaching standard in Nigeria while creating a faster and more coordinated pathway to higher academic attainment.

Students across the country have welcomed the policy, expressing optimism that it will reduce academic stress, save time, and improve access to degree education within Colleges of Education.

The Federal Ministry of Education and the NCCE have been commended for introducing what many describe as a transformative policy for the future of teacher education in Nigeria.