The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has announced plans to introduce a competency-based digital curriculum across Nigeria’s colleges of education as part of efforts to modernise teacher training and produce digitally skilled, globally competitive educators. NCCE Executive Secretary, Angela Ajala, disclosed the initiative in Abuja while marking her first 100 days in office.
Ajala said the new curriculum, being developed in collaboration with the National Universities Commission and other stakeholders, will shift teacher education away from excessive theory toward practical competencies, digital literacy, and technology-enabled learning. She noted that students will be able to access learning materials, assessments, and instructional content remotely through a digitised platform.
The NCCE boss added that the Commission is partnering with National Information Technology Development Agency to integrate digital skills into teacher preparation. She said the reforms will also emphasize skills acquisition, enabling graduates to earn professional skills certifications alongside their academic qualifications.
Ajala further revealed that the reforms support inclusive education and the phased implementation of the dual-mandate policy, which allows eligible colleges of education to award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and bachelor’s degrees. She acknowledged funding challenges but said partnerships with development agencies and stakeholders are helping to sustain the reform agenda.
Speaking at the event, Ademola Salami praised the initiative, describing it as a major step toward strengthening teacher education. He said the proposed curriculum would incorporate entrepreneurship, digital pedagogy, hands-on training, and other modern learning approaches needed to meet Nigeria’s current and future educational needs.