Kabiru Haruna
The Federal Government FG has taken a decisive step towards revitalizing Nigeria’s education sector by realigning the roles of the National Teachers Institute (NTI) and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).
The initiative, introduced under the leadership of President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, is designed to strengthen professionalism in teaching and ensure that only qualified educators are employed across the country.
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Under the new arrangement, the NTI, headquartered in Kaduna, will concentrate on teachers’ professional development.
Its responsibilities will include training and certification of teachers, provision of distance learning programs, postgraduate educational opportunities and examinations, as well as the development and administration of teacher-focused exams.
The institute will also be tasked with conducting research and developing innovative educational programs that will improve the quality of instruction nationwide.
The TRCN, on the other hand, will now focus squarely on teaching profession development, regulating and overseeing the profession in all its aspects.
Its functions will cover governance and oversight, mandatory registration and literacy standards, regulatory enforcement, strategic partnerships, and institutional mapping and verification.
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This refocused mandate will ensure that only licensed and accredited professionals are allowed to teach in schools, thereby enhancing quality assurance.
The implementation of this realignment will begin in March 2027, with a phased compliance structure requiring 75 percent compliance in 2026 and full compliance by 2027.
Both public and private schools are mandated to adhere strictly to these new directives, which aim to guarantee uniform standards of quality education across the country.
In addition, the Federal Government has introduced a bridging program for non-teaching staff with relevant experience.
Such personnel will be required to undergo a three to six-month professional certification course at NTI to enhance their skills and align them with the standards set for teaching staff.
Furthermore, TRCN licensing will now be integrated into the National Examination accreditation process.
This development ensures that only qualified and certified teachers will be engaged in the education sector, restoring professionalism to the field and promoting quality learning across all institutions.
By redefining the functions of NTI and TRCN, the Federal Government has demonstrated its renewed commitment to repositioning education in Nigeria.
The move not only strengthens the status of teaching as a profession but also guarantees that Nigerian students will have access to high-quality education delivered by competent and certified educators.