Colleges of Education across Nigeria are set to adopt a new academic structure that merges the Nigeria Certificate in Education with a Bachelor of Education degree under a single five year pathway, following ministerial directives.

The National Commission for Colleges of Education confirmed receipt of the directives, which require all institutions currently running the Dual Mandate four year degree programme to discontinue admissions into that structure and begin full implementation of the new arrangement from the 2026/2027 academic session.

Under the approved framework, students will complete three years to earn the NCE qualification and, upon meeting the required five credit passes at the O'level, proceed directly into the degree programme at 300 Level for an additional two years, earning a Bachelor of Education degree upon completion.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed during an interview on Channels Television's Politics Today on Tuesday that most federal colleges of education had already commenced the arrangement.

"That student will now go, they'll enter as an NCE, they'll do three years. After three years, if they meet the requirement to go to universities, which is five credits, they'll continue and do another two years and get two degrees. " In five years, you get NCE, National College of Education Diploma, and you get a Bachelor of Education degree," Alausa stated.

The minister confirmed that 28 federal colleges of education have commenced the programme, adding that state owned institutions are expected to begin implementation from the 2026 academic session after amending relevant state laws.

"I think, as of the last count, we have almost 18 states or 17 states that have done that. They would also be doing that from the 2026 academic session. That's a huge change in our colleges of education," Alausa added.

Students who fail to meet the university entry requirements after completing the NCE will exit with only the NCE qualification.

"If you don't meet those requirements, you terminate at NCE. But the key thing, beyond opening up more access, is to now create a pool," the minister noted.

Alausa said the reform had boosted enrolment and positioned colleges of education for long term sustainability within the national education system.