Amanze Chinonye
Britain has removed Nigeria and Ghana from the direct route to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England, citing difficulties in verifying the employment histories and professional standing of teachers applying from the two countries.
The change took effect on Wednesday, Sept. 9, according to updated guidance from England’s Department for Education (DfE), which also removed India from the list of countries whose teachers can use the direct QTS application service.
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The DfE said more than 70% of applications from teachers trained in Nigeria and Ghana contained work-history references using public email services such as Gmail or Hotmail rather than official school email addresses.
The department said this required assessors to spend additional time and resources verifying information supplied by applicants.
Countries eligible for the direct route must have a national regulator capable of confirming teachers’ professional standing and be able to provide references that meet the department’s verification requirements, the DfE said.
India was removed from the route for a separate reason, with the department saying it did not have a national regulator capable of confirming teachers’ professional standing.
The decision closes a route that attracted substantial numbers of applicants from Nigeria and Ghana. In the 2024-25 academic year, teachers trained in Nigeria submitted 1,076 applications, of which 364 resulted in QTS. Ghana recorded 1,067 applications, with 196 resulting in QTS.
The change does not prevent Nigerian or Ghanaian teachers from working in England. The DfE says overseas-trained teachers who are not eligible for the direct service can pursue alternative routes to QTS, depending on their qualifications and experience.
Teachers trained in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United States, remain eligible for the direct route, subject to the applicable requirements.
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Teachers trained in Jamaica, Singapore and South Africa also remain eligible but face additional subject and age requirements unless they are already working in specified education roles in England.
Under the revised framework, applicants from those three countries generally need a Level 6-equivalent teaching qualification preparing them to teach mathematics, science or specified languages to pupils aged 11 to 16. Alternatively, they can combine a qualifying teaching qualification with a bachelor’s degree substantially focused on one of those subjects.
Teachers already working in specified roles in England are exempt from the additional subject and age requirements.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
