Bisola David
The United Kingdom’s Department for Education has identified the priority subjects for Nigerian and other nationalities wishing to enter the UK through the Teaching Regulation Agency beginning in February 2023.
According to The Punch, the DfE had declared in June 2022 that they would be modifying the process by which they grant Qualified Teacher Status to instructors from abroad.
The report stated that various topics with high priority in the UK will be covered.
Based on the DfE, teachers from some countries can easily qualify for QTS under retained European Union and domestic regulations, but teachers from other countries cannot, even if they have comparable training and experience.
It said, “It will also assist the transition of well-qualified instructors to the English workforce,” adding that the new legislation will make this procedure consistent and equitable.
On its website, the UK government’s Department for Education announced a new development regarding visa status and application procedures, stating that “A new professional recognition service, called “apply for qualified teacher status in England,” will set uniform standards so that the credentials and experience of foreign teachers can be fairly evaluated.
From February 1, 2023, applicants with teaching credentials from the following nations and regions will be able to use the new service to see if they meet the qualifications for Qualify Teacher Status and submit an application: Australia, Canada, the EEA, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the USA.
It went on to say that candidates from Ghana, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, and India who have a teaching certification and a subject area specialization in languages, math, or science will be able to use the service to see if they match the qualifications for QTS and then apply.
Speaking of the priority topics, the DfE mentioned that a bachelor’s degree that contains at least 50% of mathematics, science, or a language apart from English taught in English public schools, and a teaching qualification that matches the criteria of a level 6 qualification, are both required.
French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Mandarin, Russian, and Spanish were identified by the DfE as the priority topics, leaving out English language.
However, it also stated that an update on other subject specializations would be available by May.
