The Department for Education (DfE) in the United Kingdom has identified priority subjects for Nigerian and other nationals seeking to enter the country through the Teaching Regulation Agency, effective February 2023. In June 2022, the DfE announced plans to revise the process for awarding Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to overseas teachers. The report indicated that certain subjects, which are in high demand in the UK, would be prioritized. Under existing EU and domestic legislation, teachers from select countries can apply for QTS more easily, while others face challenges despite possessing equivalent skills and experience. The DfE emphasized that the new legislation aims to create a consistent and fair process, facilitating the transition of well-qualified teachers into the English workforce.
In a recent update regarding visa status and application procedures, the UK Government announced on its website that a new professional recognition service, titled “Apply for Qualified Teacher Status in England,” will establish consistent standards for assessing the qualifications and experience of overseas teachers. This service will eventually be available to qualified teachers from all countries outside the UK. Starting February 1, 2023, applicants holding teaching qualifications from Australia, Canada, the EEA, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the USA will be able to utilize this new service to determine their eligibility for QTS and submit their applications.
Additionally, the DfE stated that applicants with a subject specialization in languages, mathematics, or science, along with a teaching qualification for instructing 11 to 16-year-olds from Ghana, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, and India, will also be able to use the service to verify their qualifications for QTS and apply. The DfE clarified that a teaching qualification must meet the standard of a level 6 qualification, qualifying individuals to teach children aged 11 to 16, and that a bachelor’s degree should comprise at least 50 percent of mathematics, science, or a language (excluding English) taught in English state schools.
The priority subjects identified by the DfE include French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish, with English Language excluded from this list. The DfE has indicated that further updates regarding other subject specializations will be provided by May.
Comments are closed for this story.