• Nigeria launches digital education reform to modernize schools, boost teacher quality

• New platforms NERD and DNEMIS to track schools, students, and teachers

• Over 60,000 tablets distributed; dual-mandate policy expands teacher training
  

Nigeria’s federal government has unveiled a broad education reform plan to modernize the school system through digital tools and raise teacher standards. The announcement came Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, in a statement issued after Education Minister Maruf Tunji Alausa presented the measures at the 69th National Council on Education meeting in Akure.

The reforms aim to improve data management and transparency, upgrade teacher training, expand teachers’ access to higher education, and improve learning outcomes to boost Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

A central feature of the plan is the creation of a data-driven education system. Two new digital platforms will be introduced: the National Education Repository and Databank (NERD) and the Digital Nigerian Education Management Information System (DNEMIS). They will provide real-time tracking of information on schools, teachers, and students to strengthen efficiency and oversight across the sector.

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has been fully digitized, enabling educators to register, take certification exams, and renew their licenses online. The government has distributed more than 60,000 digital tablets to teachers to support ongoing professional development and promote digital learning in classrooms.

Expanding Training Opportunities

A new dual-mandate policy for federal colleges of education will allow them to grant both the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) and university degrees. The change is intended to expand access to teacher training and strengthen qualifications.

These measures are part of a wider digital transformation drive in the education sector. On Oct. 30, 2025, the ministry launched a nationwide tablet distribution program for public schools, targeting universal digital education by 2027 to align teaching with modern labor market needs.

The initiative, which extends beyond classroom technology, reflects the government’s commitment to building a locally driven model of teacher training and development. It supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, which places education at the heart of Nigeria’s economic and social growth.

Ingrid Haffiny