The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has announced a major restructuring of teacher education programmes in Nigeria, directing all Federal Colleges of Education operating the dual mandate system to discontinue admissions into their existing four-year degree programmes beginning from the 2026/2027 academic session.
The directive was contained in an official circular dated May 5, 2026, and signed by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Angela Ajala.
According to the Commission, the reform is part of ministerial directives aimed at implementing a Continuous Five-Year NCE-Degree Programme, transitioning from the current structure to a new integrated academic pathway.
Under the new arrangement, students will first undergo a three-year Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme before proceeding to a two-year degree programme, creating what the Commission described as a “clear, coherent, and seamless progression route” within Colleges of Education.
The NCCE explained that the initiative is strategically designed to reinforce the NCE qualification as the foundational and minimum teaching credential, while simultaneously enabling qualified graduates to obtain bachelor’s degrees without interruption.
The Commission further instructed all Colleges of Education to commence full implementation of the new structure from the 2026/2027 academic session.
However, students already admitted into the existing degree programmes before the new directive will be allowed to continue and complete their studies under the curriculum through which they were initially admitted.
The circular added that detailed implementation guidelines covering admission procedures, academic programming, and sensitization processes would be communicated subsequently to aid institutions in preparing ahead of the transition.