FG mandates TRCN certification for teachers by 2027 or schools risk losing accreditation to host WASSCE, NECO, and other public exams.
In a landmark policy aimed at boosting education quality, the Federal Government of Nigeria has mandated that all secondary schools ensure their teachers are certified by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) or risk losing accreditation to host public examinations.
The directive, issued by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, underscores the government’s commitment to professionalizing the teaching workforce nationwide. According to the new guidelines, schools will be barred from serving as examination centres for WASSCE, NECO, NABTEB, and other national exams if they fail to comply with TRCN certification requirements.
Beginning in 2027, the accreditation of secondary schools for major public examinations will strictly depend on whether their teachers are duly registered and licensed by the TRCN. The policy sets clear deadlines for compliance:
March 2027 – West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE)
May 2027 – National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB)
June 2027 – National Examinations Council (NECO)
June 2027 – National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NBIAS/SAISSCE)
“Any school whose teachers are not duly registered and licensed with the TRCN shall be disqualified from serving as an examination centre,” the minister stated.
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To ease the transition, the Federal Government has given schools a two-year compliance window, urging state governments to ensure at least 75% compliance by 2026 and full compliance by 2027.
Recognizing that not all teachers are education graduates, Dr. Alausa revealed a pathway to certification through the National Teachers Institute (NTI). Teachers with at least 12 months of classroom experience are encouraged to enroll in an abridged professional certification programme lasting between three to six months, enabling them to qualify for TRCN registration and licensing.
Education stakeholders, including state governments and private school owners, have been advised to intensify sensitization efforts to prevent disruptions in the accreditation of schools for public examinations. This directive marks one of the most significant steps yet in institutionalizing professionalism and raising the standard of teaching across Nigeria’s secondary schools.
