Federal Government Urges Colleges to Maintain Degree Standards

The Federal Government has issued a warning to Colleges of Education regarding the offering of substandard degree programmes under the Dual Mandate policy. Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, the Minister of State for Education, stated that institutions must ensure they have qualified lecturers, adequate facilities, and functional quality assurance systems before starting or expanding their programmes.

This warning was delivered during the National Retreat/Workshop on the Effective Implementation of the Dual Mandate and Strategic Plan for Colleges of Education in Abuja. Ahmad emphasized that the success of the policy should not be measured solely by the number of Colleges commencing degree programmes but by quality and adherence to regulatory standards.

The Dual Mandate allows eligible Colleges to retain their Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes while offering approved bachelor’s degree programmes in education. The newly unveiled curriculum aims to establish minimum academic standards and improve teacher preparation.

Ahmad called for continuous professional development for lecturers and adequate instructional resources in institutions.