The United Kingdom has disclosed that Nigeria has been listed among eight other foreign countries that are eligible to apply for the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) through its Teaching Regulation Agency effective February 1, 2023.
Other countries
listed include Ghana, India, South Africa, Hong Kong,
Jamaica, Singapore, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe as countries now eligible for the
programme.
In a
statement by the UK Department for Education explained that this change was part of the launch of a new service.
On why the new countries were added on this
new service, the Department said research showed teachers from these countries
already have a substantial presence in the UK as valued members of the teaching
workforce.
It also stated that there is an established
interest in teaching in England in these countries in addition to having strong
educational ties with the countries in question.
“From February 1, 2023, teachers who
qualified in the following nine countries (listed above) will also be able to
apply to the QTR through the TRA,” the Department said.
Also, it said that “you can work as a teacher in England and earn a salary while you’re assessed for QTS”.
The Department also said that to apply for
assessment only QTS, you do not need a formal teacher training qualification.
However, it stated that a minimum of two
years’ teaching experience is required to be eligible.
Other qualifications include an undergraduate
degree of the same academic standard as a UK bachelor’s degree, as verified by
UK ENIC, completed a course with content that is practically and pedagogically
focussed, be qualified to teach children aged between 5 and 16 years.
Applicants must also have at least one
school year (a minimum of 9 months including school holidays but excluding time
out taken for any other reason) of professional experience working as a teacher
after qualifying, have the professional status needed to be a teacher in the
country where you qualified, and not be subject to any conditions or
restrictions on your practice.
They must as well meet a certain standard
of English language proficiency.
