By Jumoke Olaitan
The Federal Government has mandated the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, to coordinate the professionalisation of 250,000 serving teachers without formal teaching qualifications.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by Dr Iyela Ajaji, Sub-Committee chairman on Media and Communication, Accelerated Teacher Professionalisation Pathway (ATPP)
Ajayi is also the Executive Secretary, National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC).
He said the ATPP was designed to provide serving teachers with structured, affordable and time-bound routes to professional qualifications recognised by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
According to him, the initiative is being implemented under the supervision of the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, as part of efforts to strengthen teacher quality nationwide.
Ajayi said the programme would address the challenge of serving teachers who lacked professional teaching qualifications or were not licensed by TRCN.
He stressed that the initiative was not designed to remove such teachers from the classrooms but to provide them with opportunities to acquire the required qualifications.
He also said that NTI, led by its Director and Chief Executive, Prof. Sadiya Daura, would serve as the Coordinating Secretariat for the programme.
Ajayi said NTI would work with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), TRCN, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), NSSEC, National Universities Commission (NUC) and other relevant agencies.
He said the programme would be delivered through two blended-learning routes, namely the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and Professional Diploma in Education (PDE).
According to him, the PGDE route would cater for serving teachers with degrees in disciplines other than education, while the PDE would target teachers entering from the National Diploma cadre.
Ajayi said both routes would combine self-paced digital learning, virtual facilitated sessions, structured assessments and supervised teaching practice.
He explained that teaching practice would be conducted and verified in the teachers’ respective schools rather than through simulated off-site centres.
“Both routes will combine self-paced digital learning, virtual facilitated sessions, structured assessments and supervised teaching practice.
“Teaching practice is a critical component and will be supported by structured practicum, mentor and supervisor protocols, as well as documented evidence of lessons taught,” Ajayi said.
He said the programme would run for six months, comprising four months of intensive instruction and two months dedicated to teaching practice.
He added that pupils’ work, learning materials and supervisors’ endorsements would form part of candidates’ records throughout the teaching practice component.
Ajayi said NTI would coordinate curriculum development, content management and quality assurance in collaboration with UBEC and the ATPP Steering Committee.
He added that implementation would be undertaken through existing institutions with relevant mandates rather than through a parallel project unit.
He explained that preparatory work had substantially progressed, with curriculum frameworks for the PGDE and PDE routes reviewed, validated and finalised.
Ajayi said about 40 content experts drawn from universities, colleges of education and relevant government agencies had participated in developing the modules.
“The experts include representatives of NTI, TRCN, NSSEC, UBEC and NERDC, among other stakeholders involved in teacher education,” he said.
He said the programme architecture had also been mapped across the federal, state and local government levels to facilitate coordinated implementation nationwide.
According to him, the remaining preparatory activities include finalising digital curriculum delivery, teaching practice arrangements and engagement with participating institutions.
Ajayi said the blended model would combine virtual and physical components to ensure that teachers did not progress solely through digital learning.
He said each module would incorporate complementary components designed to strengthen instruction, assessment and practical application.
He further stated that the ATPP would be launched in October 2026 as part of efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda to strengthen teacher quality.
Ajayi said the initiative would promote professional standards across Nigeria’s education system and improve the quality of teaching and learning nationwide. (NAN) www.nannews.ng
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi