FG Mandates TRCN Certification for Secondary School Teachers by 2027

In a decisive step to professionalize teaching and reform Nigeria’s education system, the Federal Government has directed that only secondary schools with duly certified teachers will be accredited as centres for public examinations. The new policy, issued on September 11, 2025, and signed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, mandates that teachers in both public and private secondary schools must obtain certification from the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) before their schools can serve as centres for WASSCE, NECO, NABTEB, and SAISSCE.

According to the directive, the policy will take effect in phases, beginning in March 2027 with the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), followed by NABTEB in May, NECO in June, and SAISSCE in June of the same year. Schools that fail to comply will be disqualified from hosting these examinations. To ensure a smooth transition, schools are expected to attain at least 75 percent compliance by 2026 and achieve full compliance by 2027.

Dr. Alausa noted that state governments must immediately begin measures to ensure teachers in state-owned and private secondary schools meet the TRCN certification requirement. For non-education graduates already teaching, the memo advised them to enroll in the abridged professional certification programme of the National Teachers Institute (NTI). The short courses, lasting between three and six months, will enable participants to qualify for TRCN registration and licensing.

The ministry further directed that the matter be given the highest priority with wide sensitization of stakeholders across the country. It emphasized that the move is aimed at strengthening professionalism, improving teacher quality, and avoiding disruption in accreditation for public examinations.