The UK government has announced that Nigerian-trained teachers can no longer use the fast-track Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) application route to qualify in England, effective September 9, 2026. This change affects not only Nigeria but also Ghana and India, which have been removed from the list of eligible countries. The QTS is a professional qualification that allows teachers to work in most state schools in England.
According to the UK's Department for Education (DfE), the decision to remove Nigeria, Ghana, and India from the eligible list was due to difficulties in verifying the qualifications and professional history of applicants from these countries. Specifically, many applications from Nigerian and Ghanaian teachers included employment references sent from public email addresses, such as Gmail or Hotmail, rather than official school email domains.
The DfE stated that over 70% of applications from Ghana and Nigeria included work history references from public email addresses, creating extra work for officials trying to confirm the authenticity of applicants' information. This made it challenging for the department to ensure that overseas teachers awarded QTS have the required qualifications, experience, and professional standing to teach in English schools.
In the 2024/2025 academic year, Nigerian teachers submitted 1,076 QTS applications, with 364 successful approvals and 599 declined applications. Ghanaian teachers had a similar experience, with 1,067 applications, 196 approvals, and 749 declined applications. These numbers were a factor in the UK government's decision to update its policy and restrict the fast-track QTS application route to teachers from certain countries.
Although Nigerian teachers can no longer use the streamlined overseas QTS application service, they can still explore other routes into teaching in England. Schools in England are free to recruit overseas teachers through alternative routes, depending on their qualifications and immigration status. This means that Nigerian teachers may still be able to work in English schools, but they will need to navigate different application processes.
Currently, South Africa is the only African country still eligible for the QTS application service. Other countries and regions that remain on the list include Australia, Canada, European Economic Area (EEA) countries, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Jersey, New Zealand, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United States. Teachers from Jamaica, Singapore, and South Africa can also apply, although some may need to meet additional subject and age-specific teaching requirements.
To be eligible for QTS, overseas-trained teachers are expected to meet certain requirements, including having a valid passport, a degree equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree, professional recognition as a qualified teacher in their home country, completion of any mandatory teacher induction, at least nine months of teaching experience, and employment references from official school email domains. Nigerian teachers seeking to work in England will need to consider these requirements and explore alternative routes into teaching.
Key points
- The UK has removed Nigeria from its Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) application route due to difficulties in verifying the qualifications and professional history of applicants.
- Nigerian teachers can still explore other routes into teaching in England, but they will need to navigate different application processes.
- South Africa is the only African country still eligible for the QTS application service.
