NATIONAL TEACHERS POLICY

What Is This Policy?

The National Teachers Policy establishes the standards, rights, conditions of service, and professional development framework for all teachers in Nigeria. It aims to professionalise teaching, raise entry standards, reduce the proportion of unqualified teachers, and ensure that every Nigerian student is taught by a competent, motivated, and registered educator.

Who Does It Target?

All teachers in public and private schools from pre-primary through secondary level Teacher training institutions: Colleges of Education, universities with education faculties, and TVET teacher programmes School proprietors and state governments responsible for teacher recruitment, deployment, and conditions of service Unqualified and underqualified teachers currently in classrooms, who need supported pathways to professional certification

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Ensure that every classroom teacher in Nigeria holds a valid, current TRCN licence, eliminating unqualified teachers from schools by 2025 Raise teacher entry qualifications: minimum Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) for primary school and B.Ed. for secondary school Mandate 80 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) per year for all registered teachers Improve teacher welfare: competitive salaries, housing incentives for rural postings, and career progression to attract and retain the best graduates into teaching

Key Features

TRCN Mandatory Registration: All teachers must register with TRCN and obtain a valid professional licence; teaching without a TRCN licence is illegal under the TRCN Act Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE): Teachers seeking TRCN registration must pass the PQE in their subject area, ensuring a minimum standard of subject knowledge 80-Hour CPD Requirement: Registered teachers must complete at least 80 hours of recognised CPD annually to maintain their licence Teacher Educator Standards: Separate standards for lecturers in Colleges of Education, who train the next generation of teachers Rural Teacher Incentives: Policy mandates financial and non-financial incentives for teachers deployed to underserved rural and conflict-affected areas Ethics and Code of Conduct: TRCN has power to investigate and sanction teachers for professional misconduct, including sexual abuse, examination malpractice, and gross negligence

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Active; TRCN's 2020 to 2025 Strategic Plan operationalises the National Teachers Policy Implementing Body: Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN); Federal Ministry of Education; State Teaching Service Boards Registration Numbers: Over 1.7 million teachers registered with TRCN as of 2023; TRCN estimates approximately 500,000 more unregistered teachers still in classrooms Funding: TRCN institutional fees, FME budget, and World Bank education project technical assistance

How to Access

Teachers: Register with TRCN at trcn.gov.ng; book the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) through the TRCN portal; renew your licence every two years Schools: Verify teachers' TRCN registration before employment; submit a school staff register to TRCN annually Training Institutions: Seek accreditation for teacher education programmes at NCCE and align curricula with TRCN competency standards Contact: TRCN: trcn.gov.ng | [email protected] | Plot 1, Idu Industrial Layout Road, Abuja

Official Resources

Website: trcn.gov.ng | education.gov.ng Contact: Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Plot 1 Idu Industrial Layout Road, Abuja | +234 (0)9 670 5551 Policy Summary | Source: TRCN, FME, UNESCO Teacher Policy Guidelines, World Bank Nigeria Education Review, USAID PLANE | February 2026

Legal Framework

The National Teachers Policy (NTP 2020) operates under the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) Act 1993 (as amended), the National Policy on Education, and the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004. It aligns with the Universal Basic Education Commission Act, the National Commission for Colleges of Education Act, and UNESCO's Incheon Declaration and Education 2030 Framework on teacher quality, status, and professional development standards.