Admissions into Nigeria’s Federal Colleges of Education (FCEs) have declined by nearly 17 per cent over the past two years, sparking renewed concerns over the future of teacher education and the country’s capacity to produce enough qualified teachers.
An analysis of data from the Federal Tertiary Institutions Governance Transparency Portal showed that admissions into 19 Federal Colleges of Education with available records dropped from 67,254 students in 2022 to 55,833 in 2024, representing a decline of 11,421 admissions.
The transparency portal, managed by the Federal Ministry of Education, tracks key performance indicators, including student enrolment, institutional funding, and capital expenditure across federal tertiary institutions.
The analysis covered only the 19 of the 27 Federal Colleges of Education that published comparable admission data for both 2022 and 2024. Institutions with incomplete records were excluded.
Among the institutions recording the sharpest declines was the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, where admissions fell from 10,115 to 6,618. The Federal College of Education, Oyo, also saw admissions drop from 7,376 to 5,128, while the Federal College of Education, Katsina, recorded a decline from 7,567 to 5,203.
Other colleges with significant reductions included the Federal College of Education, Potiskum, where admissions fell from 3,520 to 1,787, and the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau, where enrolment dropped from 2,878 to 1,853.
Additional declines were recorded at the Federal College of Education, Iwo; Federal College of Education (Technical), Isu; Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze; Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka; and the Federal College of Education, Ekiadolor.
Despite the overall decline, a few colleges recorded increased admissions. The Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi, Kano State, increased its intake from 7,136 students in 2022 to 8,546 in 2024. The Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi State, also recorded growth, while the Federal College of Education, Gidan-Madi, Sokoto State, posted improved admission figures.
In 2024, the Federal College of Education, Yola, recorded the highest admissions among the institutions reviewed with 8,747 students, followed by FCE (Technical), Bichi with 8,546. At the other end of the scale, FCE (Technical), Isu, Ebonyi State, admitted only 38 students.
The review also found that several Federal Colleges of Education received budget allocations but failed to publish admission data for some or all of the years under review. These include the colleges in Gwoza, Ididep, Ofeme-Ohuhu, Keana, Abeokuta, Jama’are, and Omoku.
The transparency portal did not provide reasons for the missing data. The declining admission trend has heightened concerns about Nigeria’s future teacher workforce.
Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Dr. Angela Ajala, recently warned that Nigeria could face a severe shortage of teachers within the next six years if enrolment into teacher-training institutions is not urgently increased.
She described teacher education as the foundation of national development, stressing that every profession depends on competent teachers.
Ajala also disclosed that the NCCE has begun implementing reforms, including a dual mandate that will allow Colleges of Education to award both the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and bachelor’s degrees, while equipping graduates with internationally recognised skills certifications.
To boost enrolment, the Federal Government recently removed the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for admission into NCE programmes, although applicants must still register through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and meet existing admission requirements.
Education stakeholders have continued to advocate improved funding, better facilities, stronger incentives, and sustained public awareness campaigns to revive interest in teacher education and avert a looming shortage of qualified teachers in Nigeria.
