FG upgrades 38 technical colleges, targets fully digital exams by 2027 — Education Minister

The Federal Government has upgraded 38 federal and state technical colleges as part of ongoing reforms aimed at transforming Nigeria’s education sector into a skill-based and technology-driven system.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the 2025 Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), held on Monday in Abuja.

Dr. Alausa stated that the NESRI reforms are designed to tackle the twin challenges of unemployment and skills shortages by equipping Nigerian youths with globally competitive, practical skills.

He revealed that the technical colleges are now operating under a dual-training model where students spend 80 per cent of their time on hands-on vocational training and 20 per cent in classroom instruction.

To further strengthen the model, artisans will be paid to mentor students, creating a new value chain in the education and informal sectors.

Highlighting the urgency of reforms, Alausa said, “Nigeria has over 15 million out-of-school children and more than 45 million youths who are learning-poor. Particularly concerning are the 6 million adolescent girls between the ages of 12 and 19 who are currently out of school.”

As part of the digitisation push, Alausa announced that major examination bodies including the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC)  will commence computer-based testing (CBT) from November 2025, with full digitisation across all national exams, including JAMB, by 2027.

He said the transition to digital examinations is intended to curb examination malpractice and improve the credibility of assessments nationwide.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, emphasised the critical role of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in addressing the nation’s skills gap and reducing dependency on foreign expertise.

“We have seen companies hiring 60 percent of their workforce from abroad. That must change,” Ahmad said.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, pledged continued support for the NESRI reforms, calling education “the heart of national transformation.”