The Federal Government has warned Colleges of Education against offering substandard degree programmes under the Dual Mandate policy, insisting that institutions must meet prescribed academic and infrastructural standards before introducing or expanding such programmes.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, gave the warning on Tuesday in Abuja at a national retreat on the implementation of the Dual Mandate policy and the strategic plan for Colleges of Education.

The retreat also featured the unveiling of the Dual Mandate Curriculum and the National Commission for Colleges of Education’s Medium-Term Strategic Plan for 2026–2031.

Ahmad said the success of the policy would depend on quality, accountability, institutional readiness and compliance with regulatory standards rather than the number of colleges offering degree programmes.

She said institutions must have qualified lecturers, adequate teaching and learning facilities, functional quality assurance systems and sound governance structures to deliver effective degree programmes.

The minister warned college administrators against treating the Dual Mandate as merely an opportunity to expand academic offerings, stressing that it came with greater responsibilities.

The policy allows eligible Colleges of Education to retain their Nigeria Certificate in Education programmes while offering approved bachelor’s degrees in education, subject to regulatory requirements.

Ahmad said the new curriculum would establish minimum academic standards for degree programmes, covering teaching, student assessment, subject knowledge, pedagogical competence and practical teaching skills.

“The quality of the curriculum must ultimately be reflected in the competence, character and professional readiness of the teachers we produce,” she said.

She called on provosts and academic managers to provide continuous professional development for lecturers, adequate instructional resources, effective teaching supervision and relevant digital technologies.

On the NCCE’s strategic plan for 2026–2031, Ahmad said it should guide improvements in regulation, institutional development, quality assurance and innovation across the Colleges of Education system.

“A strategic plan achieves little if it remains on paper. Its success depends on disciplined implementation, adequate coordination, responsible leadership and sustained monitoring,” she said.

She said the retreat should produce practical implementation strategies, clear institutional responsibilities, realistic timelines and measurable performance indicators.

Ahmad also called for stronger collaboration among the Federal Ministry of Education, the NCCE, the National Universities Commission and college managements to ensure consistent implementation and avoid unnecessary duplication of regulatory processes.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the NCCE, Dr Angela Ajala, said the retreat was designed to move teacher education from policy formulation to implementation, institutional accountability and measurable results.

Ajala said the approval of the Dual Mandate presented an opportunity to reposition Colleges of Education, strengthen their academic responsibilities and create new pathways for producing highly skilled teachers.

“The Dual Mandate is not merely permission to introduce additional academic programmes or award more qualifications. It is an invitation to rethink how our Colleges are governed, how our lecturers teach, how our students learn, how our institutions are financed, and how we measure educational quality and institutional performance”, Ajala said.

She said the new curriculum was developed through consultations with curriculum specialists, academics, professional bodies, regulatory agencies and other stakeholders, covering programmes across 10 schools.

According to her, the curriculum incorporates digital competencies, inclusive education, innovative teaching approaches, entrepreneurship and practical skills to prepare graduates for contemporary educational demands.

Ajala, however, warned that the reforms would not achieve their objectives without well-prepared lecturers, modern teaching facilities, effective quality assurance, strong institutional leadership and sustainable funding.

“A curriculum on paper cannot transform a classroom. A strategic plan on a shelf cannot transform an institution. And a policy without implementation cannot transform a nation,” she said.

The NCCE executive secretary said the commission intended to make the retreat an annual platform for reviewing progress, sharing institutional experiences, assessing performance and addressing emerging challenges in teacher education.

She urged participating colleges to assess their capacity, identify gaps and develop realistic implementation plans, adding that the commission would provide regulatory guidance, technical support and institutional coordination.

Ajala also called on provosts, lecturers, development partners, professional bodies, unions and governments at all levels to support the reforms.

“Investment in teacher education is an investment in the quality of every other profession and, ultimately, in the future of Nigeria,” she said.