The Federal Government has mandated the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, to coordinate the professionalization of 250,000 serving teachers without formal teaching qualifications.
This was stated on Friday in Abuja by Dr. Iyela Ajaji, Sub-Committee Chairman on Media and Communication for the Accelerated Teacher Professionalisation Pathway (ATPP). Ajaji is also the Executive Secretary of the National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC).
He explained that the ATPP aims to provide serving teachers with structured, affordable, and time-bound routes to obtain professional qualifications recognized by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
Ajaji added that the initiative is being implemented under the supervision of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as part of efforts to improve teacher quality nationwide.
He emphasized that the program seeks to address the challenge of teachers lacking professional qualifications or TRCN licensing. Importantly, it is not designed to remove teachers from classrooms but to offer opportunities for qualification acquisition.
Ajaji stated that NTI, led by its Director and Chief Executive, Prof. Sadiya Daura, will serve as the coordinating secretariat for the program. NTI will collaborate with agencies such as UBEC, TRCN, NERDC, NSSEC, NUC, and others.
The program will be delivered through two blended-learning routes: the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and the Professional Diploma in Education (PDE). The PGDE targets teachers with degrees outside education, while the PDE is for teachers entering from the National Diploma cadre.
Both routes will combine self-paced digital learning, virtual facilitated sessions, structured assessments, and supervised teaching practice. Teaching practice will be conducted in teachers’ schools, supported by structured practicum, mentorship, supervision protocols, and documented evidence.
The program will last six months—four months of intensive instruction followed by two months of teaching practice. Candidates’ records will include pupils’ work, learning materials, and supervisor endorsements.
Ajaji said NTI would oversee curriculum development, content management, and quality assurance in collaboration with UBEC and the ATPP Steering Committee. Implementation will utilize existing institutions rather than a new project unit.
Preparatory work is well underway, with curriculum frameworks for both routes reviewed, validated, and finalized. Around 40 content experts from universities, colleges of education, and government agencies contributed to module development, including representatives from NTI, TRCN, NSSEC, UBEC, and NERDC.
The program architecture has been mapped across federal, state, and local levels for coordinated nationwide implementation. Remaining activities include finalizing digital curriculum delivery, teaching practice arrangements, and engagement with participating institutions.
Ajaji explained that the blended model will incorporate both virtual and physical components to ensure teachers do not progress solely through digital means. Each module will include components to enhance instruction, assessment, and practical application.
He further stated that the ATPP will be launched in October 2026 as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to strengthen teacher quality and promote professional standards across Nigeria’s education system.
