Federal Government Restructures Colleges of Education Into 5-Year NCE-Degree Pathway

The Federal Government has approved a revised academic structure for Colleges of Education, introducing a combined 5-year pathway that links the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) with a bachelor’s degree.

The announcement was confirmed by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) after it received ministerial directives on reforms covering the Dual Mandate system and the Continuous Five-Year NCE-degree model.

According to the directive issued on 5 May 2026, Colleges of Education currently running the dual mandate 4-year degree programme are to stop new admissions into that format. Full implementation of the new structure is expected to begin from the 2026/2027 academic session.

Under the revised arrangement, students will complete a 3-year NCE programme under the Nigeria Certificate in Education framework. Graduates who meet the required academic standards will then progress directly into a 2-year degree programme within the same institution, entering at 300 level.

The reform is designed to integrate teacher training more closely and create a single progression route from NCE to degree qualification. It also reinforces the NCE as the minimum standard for teaching practice while streamlining advancement to higher qualifications within Colleges of Education.

The minister of education, Dr Tunji Alausa, is overseeing the implementation of the policy, which is expected to reshape teacher education structure nationwide.

The National Commission for Colleges of Education said the transition will be monitored to ensure compliance and smooth adoption across all affected institutions.