The Federal Government has directed that only secondary schools with properly certified teachers will be allowed to serve as examination centres from 2027.
The directive was issued in a memo on Thursday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
Alausa explained that the move aligns with government efforts to professionalise teaching in Nigeria and improve education standards nationwide.
He stated that starting March 2027 for WASSCE, May 2027 for NABTEB, June 2027 for NECO, and June 2027 for SAISSCE, accreditation of public and private schools as examination centres will depend on whether their teachers are duly registered and licensed with the TRCN.
“Any school whose teachers are not duly registered and licensed with the TRCN shall be disqualified from serving as an examination centre,” the memo read.
The minister urged state governments to put systems in place to ensure compliance within two years, with schools expected to achieve a minimum of 75% compliance by 2026 and full compliance by 2027.
To support teachers who are not education graduates but have at least one year of teaching experience, Alausa encouraged them to enrol in the National Teachers Institute’s abridged certification programme. The programme consists of short professional courses lasting three to six months, after which participants become eligible for TRCN registration and licensing.
He called on all stakeholders to prioritise the directive and sensitise school owners and teachers across the country to avoid disruption to public examination accreditation.
