The Federal Government has given approval to the National Commission for Colleges Education (NCCE) to allow the Dual Mode of concurrently running degree and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes in colleges of education.
Executive Secretary of NCCE, Prof Paulinus Chijioke disclosed this during the 2024 National Teachers’ Day celebration organised by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COASU).
The executive secretary explained that the development was aimed at improving access to teacher education, arresting low enrolment, and ensuring quality production of professional teachers in the country.
Chijioke also emphasised the need to continue to elevate the status of the teaching profession, ensuring that it attracted the brightest and most passionate individuals.
President of COEASU, Dr Smart Olugbeko commended President Bola Tinubu for assenting to the Colleges of Education Establishment Act which granted the colleges of education system autonomy to award degrees in teacher education concurrently with the previous NCE.
He said: “In line with the implications of the dual mandate, we have continually charged all members of our union to refocus towards higher academic attainments, professional excellence, and productivity.
“Let me put it on record that pursuant to the degree awarding status, our Union initiated an upward review in the criteria for career progression for College of Education lecturers with a view to ensuring that the qualifications and research output requisite for rank attainment in Colleges of Education match global standards and justify the highly anticipated institution of professorial cadre.
“We are ready for this and we urge the Federal Government to without further delay see to the implementation.”
Meanwhile, COEASU has awarded N3.5 million to six exceptional students, each from one of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Additionally, the union conferred legacy awards on distinguished educators, including the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Alhaji Abdulmalik Mahmood, former deputy governor of Bauchi State, and other notable recipients.