The Federal Government of Nigeria has issued a new policy requiring all secondary school teachers — in both public and private institutions — to be fully certified by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) as a condition for schools to be approved as examination centres for national assessments such as WASSCE, NECO, NABTEB, and NBIAS.
The directive, which was signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Tunji Alausa, and communicated to the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of TRCN, marks a significant shift in the government’s approach to teacher professionalism and education quality control.
According to the policy, beginning in 2027, schools must meet strict TRCN compliance deadlines tied to each examination body. The timeline includes March 2027 for WASSCE (West African Senior School Certificate Examination), May 2027 for NABTEB (National Business and Technical Examinations Board), and June 2027 for both NECO (National Examinations Council) and SAISSCE (Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination)
Dr A lausa warned that any school whose teaching staff fails to obtain TRCN registration and licensing by these dates will lose eligibility to serve as a national examination centre.
To ensure a smooth rollout of the policy, the Ministry of Education has set a 75% compliance target by 2026, with full compliance mandated by 2027. State governments have been directed to oversee the certification process and ensure all teachers within their jurisdictions meet the requirement within the two-year transition window.
The policy affects all secondary schools in Nigeria, regardless of ownership, and applies to both newly recruited and long-serving teachers.
Recognizing the number of teachers currently without professional education credentials, the Ministry encouraged non-education graduates with at least 12 months of teaching experience to enroll in an abridged certification programme offered by the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI).
Dr. Tunji Alausa emphasized that the policy is part of the government’s broader mission to professionalize the teaching workforce, improve learning outcomes, and restore public confidence in Nigeria’s educational system.
“This directive is a necessary step to standardize teaching qualifications across the country. The goal is to ensure that every student in Nigeria is taught by a professionally certified educator,” the Minister stated.
He called on all education stakeholders — including proprietors, principals, state education boards, and parent associations — to support the initiative and begin early sensitization to prevent disruption of examination accreditation in 2027.
The federal government further assured that adequate support, resources, and communication will be provided throughout the transition period to facilitate smooth compliance.
