The Federal Government has instructed all secondary schools to employ certified teachers, or they will lose accreditation to take public exams. This message applies to both public and private institutions, including WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, WASSCE, and SAISSCE.
Dr. Tunji Alausa, Minister of State for Education, shared this news through the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). He stated that any school found with teachers that are not properly registered and licensed with TRCN will be prevented from acting as an examination centre.
This will be implemented in phases. From March 2027, this rule will be effective for WASSCE. Following this, schools are to comply with employment of certified teachers by May of 2027 with NABTEB. Then, the rule will be effective for NECO and SAISSCE by June of 2027. So, schools are expected to be 75% compliant with the employment of certified teachers by 2026, and fully compliant by 2028.
In the vein, in order to assist schools and teachers, the government has introduced a flexible procedure. Non-education graduates who have taught for at least a year will be eligible to apply for a short professional course offered by the National Teachers Institute. This will last from three to six months, and upon successful completion, they will be permitted to register/apply for a license through TRCN.
All state governments must ensure that the directives are enforced and compliance is verified. Furthermore, all stakeholders would conduct awareness campaigns to ensure that schools and teachers are on board with SAT.
Critics have expressed concerns about funding gaps, access to certification programs, and teacher shortages, while supporters see this as a means of validating national exams and boosting credibility. However, the government has stated that the policy is non-negotiable, as improving and validating teacher qualifications is required to improve learning performance and build trust in national exam systems.
In summary, beginning in 2027, no school with unlicensed teachers will be permitted to serve as an examination center.
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