The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun implementing the Dual Mandate Policy across all Federal Colleges of Education (FCOEs), in line with the Federal Colleges of Education Act, 2023.
Signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the legislation authorises FCOEs to award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s degrees in Education concurrently. This development marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to reform teacher education.
Announcing the policy rollout in Abuja, the Minister of Education, through a statement issued by the Ministry’s Director of Press, Boriowo Folashade, described the initiative as a bold and forward-thinking reform.
“The Dual Mandate Policy is more than a reform; it is a transformation in teacher education. It allows Federal Colleges of Education to offer both NCE and degree programmes, thereby empowering institutions, expanding access, and improving classroom instruction across the country,” he said.
Under the Act, all FCOEs that meet the standards set by the National Universities Commission (NUC) are now eligible to operate under the Dual Mandate, irrespective of when they were established.
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The Minister highlighted the policy’s wider impact, noting that allowing degree programmes within FCOEs will better equip teachers with advanced skills to meet the evolving demands of the education sector. He also noted that this will increase access to higher education by offering an alternative to traditional university routes.
“This policy tackles several issues at once: it helps reverse declining enrolment, preserves the relevance of the colleges, and eliminates the need for affiliation with universities for degree certification,” he added.
Additionally, the policy provides greater autonomy for FCOEs in developing and implementing curricula, enabling a faster response to changes in the teaching profession.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving education, the Minister reiterated that, “No nation can exceed the quality of its teachers.” He said the policy strengthens the foundation of Nigeria’s education system by ensuring that teachers are well-trained, qualified, and prepared.
He concluded by stating that including eligible FCOEs in the Dual Mandate Programme is a critical step towards strengthening Nigeria’s education sector.
