There are different cadres or tiers of tertiary institutions (i.e. institutions of higher learning), with unique and peculiar functions, which nust be well recognized. Regarding the manner which they are designed or formed, one should not be more important than the other, instead, efforts should be made towards having a clear and sound interpretation of their various functions, in order to effectively appreciate their impacts, considering the central place of education in social development. If changes are made to this effect, in terms of functions or status, the way it is being agitated for by some section of the populace, the meaning and essence of the various tertiary institutions as originally designed, may be lost, and that will be a serious threat to development. So the upgrade of status and type of degree being awarded, could be a misplaced priority, if adequate consideration is not made.
What is the striking difference between university of education and college of education? It is only a semantic issue if proper interpretation is given the subject, in relation to its unique and perculiar functions. Originally, college of education is a specialized institution of higher learning or an academy charged with the responsibility of training qualified teachers, especially for primary and secondary school levels, in the case of Nigeria. That is why, it is not just a conventional school.To this end, the change of name or status to university is absolutely needles, because its meaning and essence will completely be lost.
Across the world, as a traditional practice, specialized institutions of higher learning or academies are not mixed up with conventional institutions; their status backed by their various functions, are being maintained or protected in order to obtain social cohesion and stability. There are so many colleges with different specialties including college of nursing sciences, college of aviation, college of agriculture, college of health sciences, college of management sciences, defense academy, institute of technology, institute of economics and politics, maritime academy, etc. Notably, what define them are their unique and peculiar functions which cannot be substituted.
Rather than delving in to the change of name or status to university, which some Nigerians erroneously perceive university as being superior to college of education, whereas it is not so - they should be adjudged or rated based on their peculiar functions. In this regard, the belief about the superiority of the university over college of education should be discarded, because that will amount to adopting wrong basis for judgement. Both are not the same and should not rival each other, the same manner the three (3) arms or organs of government (legislature, executive and the judiciary) do not exercise similar functions, but jointly form government. If an arm is omitted or separated from the rest, the meaning of government is absolutely incomplete, so it is with the various tertiary institutions.Therefore, this petite misunderstanding and ignorance should be settled once and for all.
UPGRADE OF COLLEGE OF EDUCATION TO DEGREE AWARDING INSTITUTION
As earlier stated, the name, be it college, polytechnic or university, does not really matter, we should not get ourselves confused or deceived any longer. Rather, we should be looking at the possibility of raising the standard of our colleges of education and other tertiary institutions to a level they can run or administer degree programmes (Bachelor of Education - B.ed, Bachelor of Technology - B.Tech), just like the university, instead of the certificate programme, Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE) or Higher National Diploma, in the case of polytechnic. College of education, if met the standard requirements, with proper adjustment or amendment of relevant legal frameworks, can run degree programmes, like the university - the current agitation for polytechnics in Nigeria to award a B.Tech I.e. bachelor of technology degree, is incessantly being discussed in the floor of the National Assembly, to erase the gap and settle the dichotomy between the university degree (B.Sc) and polytechnic's (HND), is a welcome development so many Nigerians have embraced. It is quite unfortunate that many Nigerians have grown to accept the misnomer of placing the university top in the non-existing hierarchy of tertiary institutions in Nigeria - in true sense, the hierarchy absolutely, should not exist. This inequality and discrimination has also contributed to the erroneous belief which has necessitated the demand for change of name and status, because so many people ignorantly view the university as being superior to polytechnics and colleges of education. This should not be a priority.
The current efforts towards the change of name should be refocused or rechannelled into upgrading quality and standard. Imagine the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the statutory body for conducting Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), setting minimum entry mark or cut-off mark at 100 in a-400 questions examination, where is the standard now? Polytechnics and colleges of education should start role modelling or emulating the university, in terms of standard, as well as doing same in the aspect of academics, administration, (system), curriculum, facilities, etc.
THE UPGRADE OF AKWA IBOM STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (AKSCOE) TO UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION (AKSUOE)
The state House of Assembly has passed a bill to this effect in 2025, while 2026 was set aside to kick-start the process. Notably, the Staff, both academic and administrative, have been mandated to upgrade their qualifications. It is unknown if it is for the sake of standard or to get necessary approval from the university regulatory body, the National Universities Commission (NUC), time will let us know this. On a serious note, the school should simply start in earnest, the upgrading of its minimum entry requirements - especially the UTME cut off mark. 200 which is the average score anywhere around world, should be adopted for standard sake.
This trend in Nigeria seems to be only a change in name, and perhaps status, a little bit, but the fear remains that nothing might change in standard, which should be in all honesty, the top most priority. To maintain the argument advanced already, there is no striking difference among university, polytechnic and college of education, in terms of hierarchy and superiority, order than their various peculiar, original and statutory functions. Let the true meaning and essence of what a specialized school stands for not be lost in the name of changing it's status. The trend may be colourful but not insightful.
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