Secondary schools will no longer be permitted to administer public exams unless their instructors hold certification from the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), according to a Federal Government announcement.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa reportedly sent a message to the TRCN registrar on Thursday with a mandate.
The minister claims that the action is intended to increase professionalism in the teaching profession and guarantee that only certified educators work in institutions where important tests are administered.
Only schools with teachers registered with the TRCN will be permitted to administer exams like the WASSCE, NABTEB, NECO, and NBIAS after 2027.
The timeline shows that WASSCE will go into force in March 2027, NABTEB in May, and NECO and SAISSCE in June 2027.
Any school that does not fulfill this criterion will not be permitted to serve as an examination center.
State governments are also tasked with ensuring that public and private schools adhere to the mandate within the next two years.
Schools are expected to demonstrate at least 75% compliance by 2026, and complete compliance is needed by 2027.
The minister recommended that teachers with at least a year of classroom experience but no education degrees enroll in the National Teachers Institute (NTI), which offers three- to six-month professional training programs.
Teachers who successfully complete the curriculum can register with the TRCN and receive the required license.
To ensure that the certification process for upcoming public exams is not disrupted, the federal government urged educators, schools, and other stakeholders to take the directive seriously.
