The National President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN), Professor Boniface Odeh, has written to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, urging him to allow old NCE graduands to complete their degree programmes in Colleges of Education. In the letter dated September 19, 2026, Odeh argued that this arrangement would expand access to education and decongest the nation's universities. He noted that Colleges of Education are community-based and more affordable, reducing the financial burden on parents.
According to Professor Odeh, the inclusion of NCE graduands to complete their degree programmes would optimize the utilization of resources in Colleges of Education. Many Colleges now have professors, Ph.D. holders, and improved facilities for degree programmes, and their capacity should be fully utilized. Odeh commended the federal government and the Minister of Education for the historic approval of the Dual Mandate for Colleges of Education to run both NCE and degree programmes, saying it has rekindled hope in Teacher Education.
Professor Odeh, who is also the Provost of College of Education, Oju, Benue State, stated that the programme would fast-track equity and social justice. He emphasized that Colleges of Education are better positioned to provide education that is more accessible and affordable to Nigerians. The NAPTAN president noted that this policy would help retain teachers who abandon teaching out of frustration.
Every year, Colleges of Education produce thousands of NCE graduands, but their dream of progressing to obtain a degree is often shattered due to limited carrying capacity in universities. Universities admit only 5,000 to 10,000 out of 20,000 to 30,000 applicants per institution, prioritizing UTME candidates over NCE holders seeking Direct Entry. This has resulted in over 10 million qualified Nigerians, including a huge population of NCE holders, being denied access to university education.
The consequence of this is that NCE graduands roam the streets with certificates but without jobs. Few secure employment with NCE alone in today's Nigeria, and even fewer are admitted to complete their degrees in universities. Parents watch in agony as their investments and their children's futures waste away. This situation is not just an educational problem but also a social, economic, and security challenge.
In the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda, stakeholders of education in Nigeria are appealing to the Federal Ministry of Education to approve that all willing old NCE graduands, irrespective of the year of graduation, be allowed to return to the Colleges of Education where they obtained their NCE to complete their degree programmes. This, they believe, will address the challenges faced by NCE graduands and provide them with opportunities for further education.
The NAPTAN president's appeal is contained in a letter entitled "A PASSIONATE PLEA FROM NIGERIAN PARENTS AND EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS FOR THE INCLUSION OF OLD NCE GRADUANDS TO COMPLETE THEIR DEGREE PROGRAMMES IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION UNDER THE DUAL MANDATE POLICY." The letter was written to the Minister of Education through the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE).
Key points
- NAPTAN urges FG to allow NCE graduands complete degrees in Colleges of Education under a dual mandate arrangement.
- The programme would expand access to education, decongest universities, and optimize resource utilization in Colleges of Education.
- Allowing NCE graduands to complete degree programmes would address social, economic, and security challenges faced by Nigerian youths.
