NCCE Boss Addresses Misconception On JAMB Exemption for Colleges of Education

NCCE Boss,Dr Angela Ajala has said there is no need for fear or create confusion as regards the recent major reforms in the educator sector.

According to her,the Dual Mandate is a bold new direction for Colleges of Education in Nigeria. It simply means that accredited Colleges of Education will now have a clearer, stronger and more coordinated pathway to run teacher education in a way that allows students to earn the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and progress into a degree pathway under an approved structure.

‘Under the new continuous five-year NCE-Degree model, students are expected to complete the 3-year NCE programme and then proceed into an additional 2-year degree programme as eligible candidates. This preserves the NCE as the professional foundation for teacher education while creating a smoother route for those who want to advance into degree certification.’ She stated.

The NCCE boss said the reform is not a demotion of Colleges of Education rather it
is a repositioning. It is not the death of the NCE but it is the strengthening of the NCE. It is not
lowering standards but it is creating access, structure and progression.

For Nigeria’s education sector, Dr. Ajala said the plus is huge: more attractive Colleges of Education, better-prepared student-teachers, deeper grounding in pedagogy and subject content, and a stronger pipeline of qualified teachers for basic education.

In a related development COEASU has also described the five-year NCE-Degree structure as capable of supporting all-round professional development for student-teachers through stronger grounding in content and pedagogy.

‘At a time when teacher education needs renewal, the Dual Mandate sends a clear message: teaching must no longer be treated as a fallback profession; it must become a properly structured, respected and future-ready pathway.The future of Nigeria’s classrooms depends on the quality of teachers we prepare today’ COEASU stated.