In a major push to professionalize teaching, the Federal Government has declared that all secondary schools must ensure their teachers are certified by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) or face a ban from serving as examination centres for major public exams.
The directive was issued on Thursday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in a memo to the Registrar of the TRCN. The move is designed to enforce minimum standards and qualifications for educators across the country.
According to the new policy, starting from 2027, the accreditation of any secondary school to host examinations like the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), NECO, NABTEB, and the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) will be contingent on their teachers being duly registered and licensed by the TRCN.
The minister outlined specific deadlines for each examination body:
· March 2027 for WASSCE
· May 2027 for NABTEB
· June 2027 for NECO
· June 2027 for the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NBIAS/SAISSCE)
“Any school whose teachers are not duly registered and licensed with the TRCN shall be disqualified from serving as an examination centre,” the minister stated.
To ensure a smooth transition, the government has given a two-year compliance window. State governments have been urged to ensure all teachers in both state-owned and private secondary schools meet the requirement. Schools are expected to achieve a minimum of 75% compliance by 2026 and 100% by 2027.
Acknowledging that not all current teachers are education graduates, the minister provided a pathway to compliance. He encouraged such teachers with at least 12 months of classroom experience to enroll in an abridged professional certification programme offered by the National Teachers Institute (NTI).
“The institute offers an abridged professional certification programme with short professional courses lasting three to six months, after which participants can qualify for TRCN registration and licensing,” Alausa said.
The minister called on all stakeholders to prioritize the directive and ensure wide sensitization to avoid any disruption to the accreditation process for the crucial public examinations. This policy represents one of the most significant steps taken to institutionalize professionalism within the Nigerian teaching workforce.
