The College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Niger State College of Education, Minna Chapter, has praised the Niger State House of Assembly for passing a bill granting the institution a dual mandate to award both the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and Bachelor’s Degree in education.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, COEASU Chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Hassan Mohammed, hailed the legislative move as a significant milestone for the college, bringing it in line with other colleges of education across the country that have been granted similar dual mandates. This development follows the enactment of a law signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2023, which gave federal colleges of education the authority to offer both NCE and degree programs.
Dr. Mohammed noted that the passage of the bill aligns with ongoing efforts by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to review and streamline NCE curricula, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for both NCE and degree-level education in the country.
The Niger State House of Assembly, while passing the bill during its plenary session, emphasized the importance of aligning state institutions with the federal directive to offer dual mandates. The bill was introduced after a report from the House Committee on Education, Science, and Technology, chaired by Hon. Muhammad Sani Idris, Member representing Tafa Constituency. The report highlighted the need for such reforms to address the challenges facing teacher education and to enhance the quality of education in the state.
Hon. Idris explained that the dual mandate would help bridge the gap in university education demand, reduce illiteracy, and improve teacher training. He pointed out that the College of Education, Minna, is already running degree programs in affiliation with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, and Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDU), Sokoto, showcasing its capacity to independently offer degree courses.
Dr. Mohammed also stressed that the dual mandate would come at no extra cost to the state government, aside from the usual accreditation processes required by the NUC for degree programs. He assured that the college already has the manpower and facilities necessary to implement the dual mandate, which would elevate the quality of teacher training for primary and secondary schools in the state.
The COEASU chairman further noted that some colleges of education, previously converted into universities, are being reconverted to their original status to take advantage of the dual mandate. He urged that the Niger State College of Education seize this opportunity to uplift educational standards and help bridge the teacher shortage in the state.
The passage of the bill now awaits the governor’s assent, marking a transformative step in the state’s education sector.