The Federal Government has directed that secondary schools with unqualified teachers will lose their WAEC and NECO accreditation starting in 2027. This move aims to strengthen professionalism in the teaching profession and improve education standards.
Key Details:
- Effective Date: The directive takes effect from March 2027 for WASSCE, May 2027 for NABTEB, June 2027 for NECO, and June 2027 for SAISSCE.
- Certification Requirement: Schools must ensure their teachers are duly registered and licensed with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
- Compliance Rate: Schools are expected to achieve a minimum compliance rate of 75% by 2026 and full compliance of 100% by 2027.
- Support for Unqualified Teachers: Teachers who are non-education graduates but have at least 12 months of classroom teaching experience can enroll in the abridged professional certification program offered through the National Teachers Institute (NTI). This program consists of short professional courses lasting between 3-6 months, after which participants qualify for TRCN registration and licensing.
Rationale:
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized that this directive is in line with the government’s policy to strengthen professionalism in the teaching profession. This move is expected to improve education standards and address the issue of unqualified teachers in Nigerian schools.
