The Nigerian Government has approved the implementation of a Dual Mode system by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), allowing colleges of education to offer both degree programs and the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) concurrently.
This was announced by the NCCE Executive Secretary, Prof. Paulinus Chijioke, during the 2024 National Teachers’ Day event organized by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU). He explained that the Dual Mode system aims to enhance access to teacher education, address low enrollment, and ensure the production of high-quality professional teachers.
Chijioke also stressed the importance of elevating the teaching profession to attract the brightest and most passionate individuals.
COEASU President, Dr. Smart Olugbeko, praised President Bola Tinubu for signing the Colleges of Education Establishment Act, granting autonomy to colleges to award degrees alongside NCE programs. He added that the union has called on members to pursue higher academic achievements and professional excellence in line with this dual mandate.
Olugbeko noted that COEASU has initiated reforms to ensure that qualifications and research outputs for lecturers meet global standards, and urged the Federal Government to expedite the implementation of these changes.
In recognition of excellence, COEASU awarded N3.5 million in scholarships to six outstanding students, each representing one of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The union also presented legacy awards to distinguished figures in education, including Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), and Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), among others.
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The awards were given during the COEASU 2024 International Teachers’ Day celebration, themed “Valuing Teachers’ Voices Towards Repositioning Teacher Education in Nigeria.” According to Olugbeko, the scholarships were designed to promote academic excellence in the College of Education system.
The best students included Nwachukwu Chioma Ruth from Nasarawa State College of Education, Akwanga (North-Central zone), Musa Abdullahi Musa from Aminu Saleh College of Education, Azare, Bauchi (North-East zone), and Nusaiba Awwal Barau from Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education, Kumbotso, Kano (North-West zone).
Others were Nwoha Johnson Obinna from Benjamin Uwajomogu State College of Education, Ihite Uboma, Imo State (South-East zone), Ezeanofu Chisom Miracle from Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta (South-South zone), and Latona Mubarak from Federal College of Education, Iwo, Osun State (South-West zone), who was also named the overall best student in Nigeria.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, presented the awards and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving teachers’ welfare. He announced additional scholarships for the students and directed that their information be submitted to the Federal Scholarship Board. Sununu encouraged people to view teaching as a profession and praised the cooperation of COEASU and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
Guest speaker Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, former Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), called for improved teacher remuneration, regular training, and investment in modern classrooms and educational technology. He advocated for greater teacher engagement in decision-making and a nationwide recruitment campaign to strengthen the teaching profession.