Otamere Gladness 
AKWANGA, Nigeria – The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has launched a comprehensive review of the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) Minimum Standards and curriculum, signalling a major shift aimed at strengthening teacher quality and aligning training with global education trends.
The Executive Secretary of the NCCE, Professor Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, announces the initiative during the flag-off ceremony held at the Nasarawa College of Education, Akwanga, describing the exercise as timely and critical to Nigeria’s education future.
Okwelle says the review of the 2020 NCE Minimum Standards seeks to close identified gaps in teacher preparation by responding to emerging national priorities, global best practices and the real-world challenges facing colleges of education.
“This review will address identifiable gaps in line with global education trends and the realities confronting teacher preparation institutions,” he says.
A major focus of the revised framework is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital competencies. Okwelle explains that the new standards will embed AI awareness, ethical technology use, data literacy and adaptive digital pedagogy.
“The revised NCE Minimum Standards will ensure that future teachers are not just consumers of technology, but effective facilitators of AI-enabled learning,” he says.
He notes that the National Policy on Education designates the NCE as the minimum qualification for teaching at the basic education level, making the quality of its standards a matter of national importance.
Okwelle also highlights ongoing reforms by the NCCE, including the Dual-Mode mandate, which empowers Colleges of Education to award bachelor’s degrees independently, without university affiliation.
“This landmark reform expands access, improves autonomy and restores public confidence in Colleges of Education,” he says.
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