COEASU Commends Passage of Bill Empowering Minna College of Education to Award NCE and B.Ed Degrees

The College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) at the Niger State College of Education, Minna, has praised the Niger State House of Assembly for approving a Bill that enables the institution to award both the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and the Bachelor’s Degree in Education (B.Ed).

In a statement issued by Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Mohammed, COEASU’s chairman, the passage of the Bill is hailed as a significant milestone for the college. Dr. Mohammed remarked, "The College of Education, Minna, will now join the ranks of other colleges of education across the country that have been granted a similar status."

This legislative move follows President Bola Tinubu's signing of an Act in June 2023, which empowered federal colleges of education nationwide to offer both NCE and Bachelor's degrees in education-related fields. The National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) are currently finalizing modalities to implement this dual mandate, including curriculum revisions to facilitate the production of graduates with both qualifications.

The Niger State House of Assembly emphasized that federal colleges of education in the country are undergoing transformations to enable them to operate under this dual mandate. Consequently, there was a pressing need to localize the law within the state.

The approval came after the House Committee on Education, Science, and Technology, led by Chairman Muhammad Sani Idris, presented a comprehensive report. The committee consulted various stakeholders in the education sector to gather insights before finalizing its recommendations.

Chairman Idris noted that integrating the dual mandate is crucial for addressing the challenges facing teacher education in Nigeria, particularly given the current administration's prioritization of educational improvement.

Dr. Mohammed highlighted that the elevation of federal colleges of education to award degrees would help bridge the gap in university education demand, reduce illiteracy rates, and enhance the overall quality of education in the country. He also pointed out that the Niger State College of Education is already offering degree programs in collaboration with esteemed universities like Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and Usman Danfodio University (UDU), Sokoto, demonstrating its capacity to independently run degree programs.

This development marks a pivotal step towards enhancing the educational landscape in Nigeria, further solidifying the role of colleges of education in fostering quality learning and addressing the needs of the country's educational system.