Technology and Science Education (TSE)
Last updated: 11 September, 2026
By: Ifeoluwa
Department Overview
The Technology and Science Education (TSE) Department covers all matters of Technology and Science Education below tertiary level. The Department’s activities centre on the initiation and formulation of policies for Technology and Science Education, including setting standards and operational guidelines for the establishment of schools, providing school support services, monitoring curriculum delivery, and monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the National Policy on Education. The Department regulates the management of 34 Federal Technical Colleges nationwide.
Our Vision
To provide universal and equal access to quality Technology and Science Education to ensure self-reliance, preparedness for further education, good citizenship and effective participation in democratic governance.
Our Mission
Provision of enabling structures, building capacity for efficient and effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the National Policy on Education in Technology and Science Education below the Tertiary Education sub-sector.
Mandate
- National Policy Formulation, Policy Implementation and Supervision of Technology and Science Education below the tertiary level
- Supervises Federal Science and Technical Colleges
- Controls relevant parastatals in Technology and Science Education below the tertiary level
- Develops and controls Technology and Science Education programmes in the Federal Government Colleges and Federal Science and Technical Colleges in collaboration with the relevant examination bodies (NABTEB, WAEC and NECO)
- Specifies and keeps under review the National Minimum Guide Curricula for all types of Vocational and Science Education programmes below the tertiary level in collaboration with relevant parastatals
- Collaborates with relevant Federal Ministries and Parastatals, professional bodies, and other stakeholders in the training and re-training of Technicians, Craftsmen and Artisans, and their certification for public and private sector employment
- Sources intervention funds and technical assistance from local and international organisations for the development of Science, Technical and Vocational Education and Training
- Ensures effective global linkages for Science, Technology and Mathematics Education
- Develops and maintains the National Vocational Qualifications System (NVQS) in collaboration with relevant parastatals and stakeholders
- Provides leadership and advisory services for Technology and Science Education development nationwide
- Establishes and maintains international relations in Technology and Science Education
- Prepares and publishes national reports, information handbooks and statistical data on Technology and Science Education
- Liaises and collaborates with relevant NGOs and international organisations on matters of Technology and Science Education
- Fabricates science and technical instructional materials for Science and Technical Colleges
Core Functions
- Formulating National Policy on Technology and Science Education
- Coordinating the implementation of the National Policy on Technology and Science Education in Nigeria
- Formulating National Policy on Technical and Vocational Education and Training
- Supervising the teaching of Science, Mathematics, Technical and Vocational subjects at the Basic and Senior Secondary Education levels
- Preparing and keeping under review a coordinated and balanced national master plan for short, medium and long-term development in Technical, Science, Vocational Education and Training, in collaboration with States, Local Governments and relevant agencies
- Collaborating with relevant agencies and stakeholders in developing National Minimum Standards of facilities and pedagogy for Science, Technical and Vocational Education and Training
- Establishing and supervising Federal Technical Colleges (FTCs) and Vocational Enterprise Institutions (VEIs)
- Collaborating with relevant Federal Ministries, Parastatals and professional bodies in the training and certification of Technicians, Craftsmen and Artisans
- Sourcing intervention funds and technical assistance from local and international organisations for TVET development
- Ensuring effective global linkages for Science, Technology and Mathematics Education
- Popularising the teaching and learning of Mathematics, Science and Technology
- Promoting Coding, Robotics and AI at Basic and Post-Basic level in collaboration with Coderina Education Foundation
- Establishing and maintaining international relations in Technology and Science Education
- Providing leadership and advisory services for Technology and Science Education development nationwide
- Supervising and exercising oversight of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Mathematical Centre (NMC), and National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB)
- Coordinating regular assessment of iodine salt consumption at school and household levels
- Monitoring and evaluating implementers of the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and other nutrition activities nationwide
- Coordinating development of skills-based teachers’ manuals and pupils’ textbooks on Nutrition Education
- Specifying and reviewing national minimum guide curricula for science education programmes below the tertiary level
- Liaising and collaborating with relevant NGOs and international organisations on Technology and Science Education matters
- Providing the Chair and Secretariat for the JCCE Reference Committee on Technology and Science Education
- Serving as Secretariat to the National Council on Skills
Leadership
DIRECTOR
Mrs. Patricia Oladunni Ogungbemi
Mrs. Patricia Oladunni Ogungbemi is a distinguished educationist with over three decades of dedicated service in Nigeria’s education sector. Renowned for her passion for leadership, teaching, and innovation, she has made significant contributions to advancing national education policies and programmes. Her career reflects versatility and national reach, having served in leadership roles across diverse geo-political zones. She previously distinguished herself as Principal of Federal Government College, Ohafia, Federal Technical College Uyo (an all-girls technical college), and Federal Government College, Keffi, where her commitment to excellence and strong leadership left lasting impacts. On 26th March 2026, Mrs. Ogungbemi assumed duty as Director of Technology and Science Education. In this capacity, she has been instrumental in driving initiatives that strengthen workforce readiness and promote technology-driven education. Her leadership has supported the integration of robotics, coding, and artificial intelligence into Nigeria’s education system, while also advancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), STEMM programmes, and digital skills development nationwide. Her vision continues to inspire progress in preparing Nigeria’s youth for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
Organizational Structure
The department is headed by a Director and structured into two Divisions each headed by a Deputy Director: –
Divisions: Technical Education
Branches:
Technical Education, Public & Private Technical Colleges
Key Functions:
- Supervises and coordinates all the activities of the branches within the division
- Initiating and implementing National Policies on Technical Education.
- Supervision of the FSTCs in collaboration with the Basic and Secondary. Education Department.
- Collaboration with the State Ministries of Education in the supervision of State and Private Technical Colleges (S&PTCs) in Nigeria.
- To ensure the sustenance of the deliverables of the African Development Bank (ADB) assisted Skills Training and Vocational Education (STVE) Project.
- Effecting International co-operation in Technical Education.
- Harmonizing Technical Education policies and practice nationwide as directed by National Council on Education (NCE).
Divisions: Vocational Education
Branches:
- Pre-Vocational Education (Pre-Voc)
- Entrepreneurship Education and Innovation (EEI)
- Vocational Enterprise Institutions (VEIs)
- Food & Nutrition(F&N)
- Skills to Enterprise Promotion (STEP)
Key Functions:
- Initiates and drives implementation of national vocational education policy, ensuring availability of human capital for Nigeria’s global economic competitiveness
- Supervises Vocational Enterprise Institutions under Public Private Partnership arrangements.
- Monitors and advises on delivery of Vocational Education programmes at basic and secondary levels.
- Ensures quality vocational education programmes in Technical Colleges.
- Liaises with NBTE, NMC, NERDC, NABTEB, NECO and WAEC on vocational education programme development.
- Develops the centralised National Vocational Enterprise and Skills Development (VESD) Management System, including Monitoring and Evaluation tools, skills competitions, and Citizen Clubs in schools.
- Conducts profiling, registration and certification of trainees, training providers and assessors into the national VESD databank.
- Initiates VESD funding mechanisms and PPP arrangements.
Divisions: Science Education
Branches:
- Popularization of Technology and Science Education and projects exhibition.
- Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE)
- Environment Science Education (ESE)
- School Science Education (SSE)
- Science Laboratory Education (SLE)
Key Functions:
- Monitors and evaluates learning achievements in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences) education.
- Collaborates on STEMM education policy formulation and execution.
- Liaises with FME parastatals, State Ministries of Education, SUBEBs and international donor agencies on STEMM projects.
- Develops STEMM education data.
- Organises STEMM clinics for students and capacity building for Science and Mathematics teachers
- Participates in JETS-related seminars, workshops and conferences.
Divisions: Technical Assistance
Branches:
- Technical Teachers Training Program(TTTP)
Key Functions:
- Initiating and driving the implementation of Technical Training Programme (TTTP) to ensure the availability of adequate Technical, Vocational, Science and Mathematics Teachers in public schools nationwide.
- Monitoring/supervising institutions where the TTTP is conducted to ensure quality training, vocational science and mathematics teachers.
- Conduct interviews, selection and placement of candidates into institutions running TTTP
- Regularization of admission of TTTP candidates with JAMB office.
- Holding of workshops, seminars e.t,c with state coordinators and institutions desk officers.
- Organizing activities aimed at improving the skills of Technical, Vocational, Science and Mathematics teachers in post-primary schools nationwide (Pedagogy and hands-on) e.g foundry and mechatronics e.t.c
- Collaborating with relevant Federal Ministries, Parastatals, Agencies and Stakeholders in the continuous professional development of TTTP teachers.
- Seeking for intervention and technical assistance from local and international organizations for technical teacher training programme in particular and TVET in general.
- Preparation and publication of national reports, information handbooks, statistical data e.t.c on TTTP.
Divisions: Science Equipment Centre, Lagos
Branches:
- Repair and Maintenance
- Natural Science
- Technical and Fabrication
Key Functions:
- Repairs and maintains school science equipment. Designs and fabricates standard school science equipment.
- Produces Primary Science and Mathematics Kits. Runs sandwich training courses and short-term attachment training for laboratory personnel.
- Runs refresher courses for STM teachers on laboratory skills and basic repairs.
- Provides IT/computer skill training.
- Runs laboratory courses/science workshops for primary school teachers on sourcing local materials.
- Provides consultancy and advisory services in school science equipment.
Key Services
- Advocacy and sensitisation of the public on the importance of TVET for economic emancipation and self-reliance
- Annual selection and placement of candidates into JSS1 and NBC/NTC1 in FTCs, in collaboration with NABTEB
- Capacity building of STEM and vocational education teachers, laboratory technicians and workshop attendants
- Development of Minimum Standards for Science Laboratories and ensuring their application
- Conduct of the annual National Students Vocational Skills Competition
- Organisation of the annual Pre-JETS competition workshop
- Organisation of the National Junior Engineers, Technicians and Scientists (JETS) annual national competition
- Organisation of annual zonal and national Coding, Robotics and AI competitions, in collaboration with Coderina Education Foundation
- Participation in quarterly meetings of Principals of Federal Technical Colleges
- Annual interactive forum with managers of FTCs
- Development of a training manual on nutritional guidelines for school meal planning and implementation
- Capacity building of teachers and school meal service managers on the National Guidelines for school meal planning and implementation
- Development of a student’s text on Nutrition Education Information and Communication for Basic Schools
- Organisation of Annual World Environment Day
- Organisation of the Annual Mathematics Quiz Competition
- Harmonising Science and Technical Education policies and practices nationwide, as directed by the National Council on Education
- Serving as the National Coordinating Unit of the Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education (SMASE) in Nigeria Project
- Organisation of SMASE Technical and National Steering Committee meetings
- Coordinating monitoring and evaluation of SMASE National In-Service Education and Training (INSETs) at NTI, Kaduna
- Coordinating stakeholder selection for training sponsored by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
- Sustaining the Africa Development Bank-assisted Skills Training and Vocational Education Project
- Monitoring and evaluating Business Development Centres established through the ADB-assisted Skills Training and Vocational Education Project
- Annual STEM clinic/camp for female students in Basic and Senior Secondary schools
- Organisation of the Youth Not in Employment Education Programme (Y-NEET)
- Organisation of Science Process Techniques (SPT) workshops on teaching difficult concepts in Science and Mathematics
- Organisation of activities to promote agriculture and other pre-vocational activities
- Coordinating STAN Annual National/International Conferences for TSE staff
- Facility visitation/tours to selected institutions for validation of existing capacities and equipment for learning
- Selection and induction of Technical Teacher Training Programme (TTTP) Coordinators, both in participating institutions and across the 36 States and FCT
- Advertisement and intensive advocacy of TTTP in the media
- Managing online admission forms, interviews, collation, selection and placement of successful TTTP candidates into selected Universities/Colleges of Education
Key Programmes/Projects
African Development Bank (ADB) Assisted Skills Training and Vocational Education Project Part of the Inclusive Basic Service Delivery and Livelihood Empowerment Integrated Project, initiated by the African Development Bank in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education and other stakeholders, supporting rebuilding efforts in Nigeria’s North East region. The project supports five North Eastern states: Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba.
Objective and Goal: To improve quality of life by increasing access for the poor, and to contribute to reducing poverty and vulnerability in Nigeria’s North East in the context of emergency transition, recovery and peacebuilding through human resource development.
Components: (1) Service Delivery: restoring access to basic social services in health, education, water and sanitation, including rehabilitation of FSTC Lassa; (2) Economic Recovery: promoting job creation and entrepreneurship focused on youth and women; (3) Institutional Strengthening: supporting a unified national social registry and strengthening PCNI’s coordination mandate.
Innovation Development and Effectiveness in the Acquisition of Skills (IDEAS) Project: a World Bank assisted project initiated by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Ministry of Education, aimed at enhancing the capacity to develop relevant skills for the formal and informal sectors. Runs from 2020 to 2026, supporting an estimated 38–40 Technical Colleges (20 Federal, 18 State).
Components: (1) Incentivising industry partnerships for enhanced quality and labour-market orientation of public technical colleges; (2) Improving skills formation in the informal sector; (3) Strengthening the regulatory environment and public management capacities for market oriented skills development; (4) Increasing the availability of competent and motivated teachers and instructors.
Other current initiatives:
- Rebranding Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSFederal Technical Colleges (FTCs), expanding TVET focus from science-plus-technical toward pure skills/industry focus
- Introduction of skills and apprenticeship training under the Nigeria Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF)
- Rebranding STEM to STEMM, incorporating Medical Sciences
Achievements
National STEMM Advancement Programme Implementation of baseline assessment activities for the pilot phase of the National STEMM Advancement Programme (NSAP), following the Honourable Minister’s approval to expand the conventional STEM framework to STEMM (including Medical Sciences). A comprehensive baseline assessment was conducted in two pilot Federal Science Colleges (Sokoto and Ogoja) covering infrastructure, laboratories, ICT facilities, technical workshops, classrooms and hostels. (11–14 March 2026)
Sakura Science High Program (SSHP): participation trip to Japan. (24–30 May 2026)
IDEAS Project: Digital Skills Training
- 122,064 beneficiaries trained
- 79,635 certifications delivered across basic, intermediate and advanced digital competencies
IDEAS Project: NYESAF/IDEAS-TVET Initiative
- Restructured to a private sector-led, results based contracting model
- 710 Training Service Providers engaged
- Over 40,000 trainees enrolled across high demand sectors nationwide
IDEAS Project: Rehabilitation and Modernisation of TVET/Vocational Centres
- 103 Technical Colleges renovated/equipped across Federal and State levels
- 110 workshops renovated and fully equipped
- Procurement of project vehicles and facility renovations under the initial IDEAS grant
Why was TVET introduced? To reduce youth unemployment and reliance on paper qualifications, and to revive Nigeria’s technical schools and bridge the skills gap in industries.
What are the training options available?
- Short Term Certificate (STC) : 6 months, ideal for school leavers or first time trainees
- Vocational Education & Innovation (VEI) : 1 year, for those with some prior education or informal training
- Technical College Track: 3 years, the conventional pathway through Federal Technical Colleges
What courses can I study? Popular trades offered in Federal Technical Colleges include Electrical Installation, Welding & Fabrication, Plumbing & Pipe-fitting, Carpentry & Woodwork, Automobile Mechanics, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Fashion Design & Garment Making, Digital Media Production, Solar PV Installation, and Livestock Farming (e.g. poultry, beekeeping).
Is there an age or education requirement? Age limit is between 13 and 20 years. There is no strict education requirement for the Short Term Certificate track. The Vocational Education & Innovation track requires basic certificates or proof of prior learning.
Director's Additional Profile Information:
- Professional Memberships: Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, Counselling Association of Nigeria
- Honors: Ambassador for Peace, Universal Peace Federation; Lolo Ifeadikanwanne of Nanka Town
- Core Competencies: Policy formulation, strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, quality assurance
Images & Media
Contact Information
Main Office: Technology and Science Education Department, Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Secretariat, Shehu Shagari Way,Abuja, Nigeria, P.M.B 146, Garki.
- Email: tse@education.gov.ng