SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED DUAL-MANDATE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FOR COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA (2026/2027 ACADEMIC SESSION) The proposed Dual-

SUMMARY OF THE PROPOSED DUAL-MANDATE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS FOR COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN NIGERIA (2026/2027 ACADEMIC SESSION) The proposed Dual-Mandate/Continuous 5-Year NCE–Degree Programme is broadly aligned with recent policy directions announced by the Federal Government and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) for implementation from the 2026/2027 academic session. Key highlights include: • Colleges of Education operating under the Dual-Mandate arrangement will be empowered to award degrees independently rather than through affiliations with universities. • The proposed structure consists of a 3-year Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme followed by a 2-year Bachelor's Degree programme, creating a seamless five-year academic pathway. • Full implementation is expected to commence in the 2026/2027 academic session. • Students currently enrolled in existing degree programmes will continue and complete their studies without disruption, while fresh admissions into the old affiliated-degree structure are expected to be phased out. • The NCE qualification is being positioned as the primary pathway into degree programmes within Colleges of Education. However, some aspects of the proposed implementation process—including O'Level verification fees, verification-code procedures, admission requirements, and transition arrangements for UTME candidates—are still subject to clarification and final directives from relevant regulatory agencies. Stakeholders are therefore advised to regard these details as proposed implementation guidelines pending official circulars and operational directives from NCCE, JAMB, NUC, and the Federal Ministry of Education. Source: Education Information Society of Nigeria (EISN).