NCCE uncovers 200 illegal institutions offering NCE programmes nationwide

The National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) has said that over 200 illegal institutions running National Certificate of Education (NCE) programmes nationwide have been uncovered.

The Executive Secretary of NCCE, Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, disclosed this in Lagos at a capacity-building workshop for provosts and senior academic staff organized by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

He also disclosed that the commission would soon carry out the review of the college of education curriculum in 2022.

“We are addressing the issue of illegal colleges of education in the country. NCCE has identified 200 illegal institutions including some universities running NCE programmes without approval. We have sent the report to the minister of Education.

“NCCE is waiting for a ministerial directive on the illegal institutions. Some of them have been informed and asked to regularize their status. As soon as we are through, we will start the process of closing them down,” Prof Okwelle stated.

On curriculum review, he said the commission rather than wait every five years for the review now carries out the exercise on a regular basis.

Prof Okwelle confirmed that the commission carried out a curriculum review in 2020 and it was rolled out for implementation in 2021.

“We want to carry out a holistic review of the curriculum for colleges of education. We will soon commence another exercise. Because of the current trend, we may carry it out on a regular basis,” he said.

The Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arch Sonny Echono, said the capacity-building workshop for provosts of colleges of education is meant to equip and reposition the institutions.

Echono said TETFund would continue to support colleges of education because of the vital role they play in teacher education in the country.

He acknowledged the decline in enrollment of students in colleges of education, stating that with improved facilities and qualified basic education teachers, the trend would soon change for the better.

“Efforts must be made to improve the quality of pupils in the primary and junior secondary by also producing quality graduates as teachers,” he added.