NCCE reviews NCE minimum standards, curriculum to boost teacher quality

The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has begun a comprehensive review of the NCE Minimum Standards and curriculum to strengthen teacher education nationwide.

The Executive Secretary of NCCE, Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, disclosed this at the inauguration of the review exercise at the Nasarawa State College of Education, Akwanga.

Okwelle said the review would address identified gaps, align teacher preparation with national priorities, global education trends and practical realities facing colleges of education.

He explained that the exercise brought together teacher educators, policymakers, practitioners and development partners to enrich the review outcomes through shared expertise.

According to him, the revised curriculum will integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital competencies to prepare teachers for technology-driven classrooms and the future of work.

“This forward-looking approach will position Nigerian teachers to operate confidently in technology-rich classrooms and align teacher preparation with international best practices and national development aspirations,” he said.

Okwelle said the new standards would promote AI awareness, ethical technology use, data literacy and adaptive digital pedagogy among future teachers.

He noted that the reforms would ensure that Nigerian teachers became effective facilitators of AI-enabled learning, in line with international best practices.

The NCCE boss recalled that the National Policy on Education recognised the NCE as the minimum qualification for basic education teachers in Nigeria.

He stressed that ensuring the relevance, quality and effectiveness of the NCE minimum standards remained a matter of national importance.

“The goal of the NCCE is to produce minimum standards that are academically robust, practically implementable, globally relevant, and responsive to the needs of contemporary classrooms.

“Over the last few years, the NCCE has pursued a deliberate and far-reaching reform agenda aimed at strengthening teacher education and repositioning Colleges of Education for relevance, quality, and sustainability.

“Central to this effort has been the successful implementation of major policy reforms, most notably the operationalisation of the Dual-Mode mandate,” he said.

Okwelle said the reform would expand access, improve enrolment, strengthen autonomy and restore public confidence in colleges of education.

He commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for supporting teacher education and attending the inaugural event.

He urged stakeholders to engage constructively, noting that quality teachers were central to improving foundational education and securing Nigeria’s future.