The Nigerian Government is no longer interested in the conversion of Colleges of Education to universities. Instead, it has approved their upgrade to degree awarding institutions.
Minister of Education, Professor Tahir Mamman, made this known at the Imperative of Digital Pedagogy and Research for Teacher Improvement and Economic Development conference in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
In 2013, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan started the conversion of Colleges of Education to Universities of Education. The idea was celebrated by those who wanted a lift in teacher education.
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By 2015, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration halted the conversion move. Fast forward to 2024, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has embraced an upgrade of Colleges of Education to degree awarding institutions, instead of outright conversion.
But what does this mean for teachers in the Colleges of Education, especially with the obvious desires of having quality teachers in the country’s schools.
There is a consensus among teachers, administrators, and regulators for digital pedagogy and industries-needed research to be encouraged in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions to groom competitive teachers and, by extension grow and develop the economy.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
