The Federal Government has announced a new requirement for secondary schools in Nigeria, stating that they will no longer be permitted to serve as centers for public examinations unless their teachers are certified by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
This directive was issued in a memo by Education Minister Tunji Alausa to the TRCN registrar on Thursday. The minister emphasized that the move aims to enhance professionalism in the teaching sector, ensuring that only qualified teachers are engaged in schools where major examinations occur.
Starting from 2027, schools will only be accredited to host examinations such as WASSCE, NABTEB, NECO, and NBIAS if their teachers are registered with the TRCN. The timeline for implementation begins with WASSCE in March 2027, followed by NABTEB in May, while both NECO and SAISSCE will take effect from June 2027.
Any school that fails to meet this requirement will not be approved as an examination center. The directive also places the onus on state governments to ensure compliance from both public and private schools within the next two years.
By 2026, schools are expected to achieve at least 75% compliance, with full compliance mandated by 2027. To assist teachers lacking education degrees but possessing at least one year of classroom experience, the minister highlighted the National Teachers Institute (NTI), which offers short professional courses lasting between three and six months. Completion of this program enables teachers to register with the TRCN and obtain the necessary license.
The federal government has urged schools, teachers, and other stakeholders to take this directive seriously to avoid disruptions in the accreditation process for future public examinations.
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