The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a new directive, warning that secondary schools must employ certified and licensed teachers by 2027 or risk losing their accreditation to serve as examination centers for major public exams.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, announced the policy, which mandates that all teachers in both public and private secondary schools must be registered and licensed with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
“Accordingly, effective from March 2027 for WASSCE, May 2027 for NABTEB, June 2027 for NECO and June 2027 for SAISSCE, any school whose teachers are not duly registered and licensed with the TRCN shall be disqualified from serving as an examination centre,” he said.
The new rule will take full effect in 2027, with a preceding target of 75% compliance by 2026. This move is part of a broader effort to professionalize the teaching profession and remove unqualified educators from classrooms.
To help schools meet this new requirement, the government has provided an option for non-education graduates with at least 12 months of teaching experience to enroll in an abridged professional certification program.
These short courses, offered through the National Teachers Institute, are designed to last between three and six months. The Minister has called on state governments and other stakeholders to ensure the directive is widely communicated to prevent any disruption to the accreditation process for examinations such as WASSCE, NABTEB, NECO, and NBIAS.
NAN
