TVET Update 2026: FME Issues Fresh Guidelines for Training Centres and Cohort 2 Applicants
The Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has released a fresh set of updates for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres participating in the ongoing national skills acquisition programme.
The new directives, issued on May 15, 2026, cover trainee enrollment, quality assurance requirements, starter pack distribution, and preparations for Cohort 2 expected to begin in June 2026.
According to the update, all applicants marked as “registered” but who have not completed biometric enrollment risk being removed from the system next week. Training centres were advised to ensure that all registered trainees report physically before confirming their registration status on the portal.
The ministry also directed centres to upload sufficient Quality Assurance Assessor (QAA) and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) reports, noting that Awarding Bodies will review the reports before conducting visits to training centres.
FME clarified that accredited centres are not expected to pay any fees for final assessments conducted by Awarding Bodies. Centres that may have made payments were encouraged to request refunds immediately.
To improve training standards nationwide, the ministry announced that minimum training durations for each trade will soon be published. These timelines will align with the Guided Learning Hours specified for each programme.
The National Occupational Standards (NOS) will now serve as the official reference for developing training manuals. Centres can access the NOS documents through the TVET dashboard or via the official net.nbte.gov.ng
In preparation for graduation, starter packs for Cohort 1 trainees will be distributed alongside graduation activities, while Cohort 2 participants are expected to receive theirs either at the commencement or midway into the programme.
The ministry further confirmed that applications into the TVET programme are still ongoing, while Cohort 2 training is likely to commence in the first week of June 2026.
Additionally, FME revealed that Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for each session will soon be published to address common concerns from centres and trainees.
Centres seeking approval for increased training capacity or additional trades were advised to submit applications through the official TVET portal.
The TVET initiative continues to support skills development and workforce readiness across Nigeria by providing practical vocational training opportunities for young Nigerians.
TVET Update 2026 – Key Highlights
- Applicants marked as registered but not yet enrolled through biometrics will be removed from the system next week.
- Training centres must ensure enough QAA and IQA reports are uploaded on the portal.
- Centres are not required to pay for final assessments by Awarding Bodies. Any centre that already paid should request a refund.
- The Federal Ministry of Education (FME) will publish the minimum training duration for each trade based on Guided Learning Hours.
- National Occupational Standards (NOS) should be used when developing training manuals.
- Starter packs for Cohort 1 trainees will be distributed during graduation, while Cohort 2 trainees may receive theirs at the beginning or midway through training.
- Centres should not mark trainees as registered if they have not physically reported at the centre.
- Applications into the TVET programme are still ongoing.
- Cohort 2 is expected to begin in the first week of June 2026.
- Awarding Bodies will review uploaded QAA and IQA reports before visiting centres.
- Centres can download the NOS documents from the TVET dashboard or the net.nbte.gov.ng.
- The list of trades expected to last for 6 months and 12 months has been published.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for each session will soon be released.
- Requests for increased centre capacity or additional trades should be submitted through the TVET portal.
