The United Kingdom has removed Nigeria and Ghana from the list of countries whose teachers can apply directly for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England.
The UK Department for Education said the decision was linked to concerns over the use of public email addresses, including Gmail and Hotmail, for work history references submitted by applicants from the two countries.
QTS is a legal requirement for teaching in several schools in England.
The department disclosed the development in a statement published on its website, saying more than 70 per cent of applications from teachers in Nigeria and Ghana included work history references using public email addresses instead of official school domains.
“This means assessors spend additional time and resources trying to verify information provided in applications,” the department said.
The exemption took effect on September 9.
Why Nigeria, Ghana Lost QTS Eligibility
The UK government expanded direct QTS eligibility to Nigeria and Ghana in 2023, according to an annual report by the UK teaching agency.
Under the scheme, overseas teaching qualifications and experience are assessed against strict requirements before QTS is awarded.
The Department for Education said an eligible country must have a national regulator capable of confirming a teacher’s professional standing and providing authenticated references.
It added that about 90 per cent of applications are assessed within 12 months.
India was also removed from the list because it does not have a national regulator capable of confirming teachers’ professional standing.
South Africa is now the only African country remaining on the list of countries eligible for the direct QTS service.
“We must be confident that the information applicants provide is genuine. This helps ensure that overseas teachers awarded qualified teacher status have the skills and experience needed to teach in schools in England,” the department said.
The department added that teachers who are no longer eligible for the Apply for QTS in England service can explore alternative routes.
QTS Application Requirements
Teachers applying for QTS must have a valid passport and an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree.
They must also be recognised as professional teachers in the country where they completed their teacher training and have completed all mandatory induction requirements for full teacher registration in that country.
Applicants must provide evidence that they can teach children aged between five and 16.
They must also have at least one school year, or nine months, of teaching experience in any country.
The experience must have been gained after the applicant first became qualified to teach.
Applicants are also required to provide references confirming their work history. The references must include an email address using the school’s official domain.
What This Means for Nigerian Teachers
Nigerian-trained teachers can no longer use the direct QTS application service under the current eligibility rules.
However, the UK Department for Education says teachers who are ineligible for the direct service may explore other routes to gain the qualifications or recognition required to teach in England.
