Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Nigeria has been listed among African countries whose citizens can now apply for qualified teacher status through the Teaching Regulation Agency in the United Kingdom.
Other foreign countries which the offer extends to include Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Singapore, South Africa, Ukraine and Zimbabwe.
A notice published on the UK government’s website in early December by the country’s Department for Education, announced that the programme will commence on February 1,2023, for interested non-UK nationals.
According to the notice, applicants do not necessarily require initial teaching qualifications as the country offers a training programme for potential migrants.
“From February 1, 2023, teachers who qualified in the following nine countries (listed above) will also be able to apply to the QTR through the TRA.
“This change is part of the launch of a new service.
“Teachers from all eligible countries will have to show they meet a consistent set of criteria for the award of the QTS. Over time, this route will be opened to qualified teachers from every country outside the UK.
“To apply for assessment – only QTS, you do not need a formal teacher training qualification.
“However, you must have: a minimum of two years teaching experience, a first (bachelor’s) degree from a UK or non-UK university, an English language qualification which is the same standard as a grade four General Certificate of Secondary Education, a maths qualification which is the same standard as a grade four GCSE to teach children aged three to 11 in primary school, a physics, chemistry or biology (science) qualification which is the same standard as a grade four GCSE,” the notice read.
