FG TARGETS PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION FOR 250,000 TEACHERS THROUGH NEW PROGRAMME

The Federal Government has selected the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) to coordinate a major teacher professionalisation programme aimed at helping about 250,000 serving teachers obtain professional qualifications and move towards certification and licensing by 2027. The initiative, known as the Accelerated Teacher Professionalisation Pathway (ATPP), is designed to address the gap affecting teachers who are already working in classrooms but do not yet possess formal professional teaching qualifications.

The programme is expected to allow eligible teachers to improve their professional status without leaving their current jobs. Under the initiative, serving teachers can pursue recognised professional qualifications through flexible learning arrangements that combine facilitated sessions, digital coursework and practical classroom experience. The programme is particularly targeted at teachers who have academic qualifications but require formal professional training to meet the required standards for the teaching profession.

The ATPP will provide different routes depending on the academic background of participants. Holders of a Bachelor’s degree or HND who are teaching without an education qualification can pursue the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) pathway, while eligible teachers with ND or OND qualifications can follow the Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) route. The programme also covers teachers working in public and private schools as well as those involved in ECCDE, primary, secondary, TVET and other educational settings.

The Federal Government said the initiative is intended to strengthen the quality of Nigeria’s teaching workforce by improving teachers’ professional competence and ensuring that those already in classrooms have access to appropriate training and certification. The pathway will also provide an opportunity for eligible participants to progress towards Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) registration and professional licensing, subject to meeting the required programme and regulatory conditions.

The first cohort of the programme has opened for applications, with serving teachers required to meet the eligibility conditions, including relevant classroom experience. The government and participating education institutions are expected to use the programme to improve professional standards across the sector while ensuring that teachers can continue teaching as they undertake their professional development. The broader target of professionally qualifying 250,000 teachers by 2027 is expected to form a major part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s education system and improve learning outcomes for students.