The Federal Government is set to train 250,000 serving teachers without professional teaching qualifications through a six-month programme aimed at helping them obtain recognised credentials.
Drivetvnews gathered that the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) said it had been mandated to coordinate the Accelerated Teacher Professionalisation Pathway (ATPP) under the supervision of the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa.
The initiative is designed to address qualification gaps among teachers who are already in the classroom but lack professional teaching credentials, including those who are not licensed by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria.
According to the NTI, the programme will professionalise the affected teachers without removing them from the classroom.
The ATPP will operate through two routes: a Postgraduate Diploma in Education for teachers with degrees in non-education fields and a Professional Diploma in Education for serving teachers entering from the National Diploma level.
Participants will undergo digital learning, virtual sessions, assessments and supervised teaching practice. The practical component will take place in their respective schools and will be monitored by mentors and supervisors.
The programme will last six months, consisting of four months of intensive instruction and two months of teaching practice.
The NTI said curriculum frameworks for both routes had been reviewed and finalised, with about 40 experts from universities, colleges of education and relevant government agencies contributing to the development of the modules.
The institute will work with agencies including the Universal Basic Education Commission, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, National Senior Secondary Education Commission and National Universities Commission.
The Federal Government is expected to officially launch the ATPP in October 2026 as part of efforts to improve teacher quality and learning outcomes across Nigeria.
