The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has commenced a review of the Colleges of Education curriculum and the 2020 Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) Minimum Standards, aimed at improving the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of teacher education in Nigeria.

Speaking at the flag-off of the exercise at the Nasarawa State College of Education, Akwanga, the Executive Secretary of NCCE, Professor Paulinus Chijioke Okwelle, said the review would address identified gaps in line with national priorities, global education trends, and the practical challenges confronting teacher preparation institutions. He noted that the exercise brings together key stakeholders, including teacher educators, policymakers, practitioners, and development partners, to ensure a robust and inclusive outcome.

Professor Okwelle disclosed that the revised curriculum framework will integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital competencies, including AI awareness, ethical use of emerging technologies, data literacy, and adaptive digital pedagogy . According to him, this will prepare future teachers to operate effectively in technology-driven classrooms and align Nigerian teacher education with global best practices.

He recalled that the National Policy on Education recognises the NCE as the minimum qualification for entry into the teaching profession at the basic education level, stressing that the review is critical to sustaining its relevance and quality. He also highlighted recent reforms by the NCCE, including the dual-mode mandate, which empowers colleges of education to award Bachelor’s Degrees in Education independently, describing the curriculum review as timely and strategic.

In her remarks on behalf of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening quality teacher education as a key pillar of national development. She said the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, which prioritises innovation, skills development, and a future-ready education system. She stressed that the review's outcomes must be practical, implementable, and capable of improving teaching quality nationwide.

Governor of Nasarawa State, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, charged stakeholders to ensure that the exercise delivers implementable outcomes that translate into measurable improvements in teacher competence, effective learning delivery, and overall educational development, particularly in the context of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.