National Teachers’ Institute to lead Nigerian teacher professionalization drive

The National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) in Kaduna has been appointed to lead the Federal Government’s Accelerated Teacher Professionalisation Pathway (ATPP). This initiative, introduced by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, aims to provide 250,000 serving teachers with recognized professional credentials without removing them from their classrooms.

The programme offers two qualification routes: a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) for teachers with non-education degrees, and a Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) for those in the National Diploma cadre. The NTI will coordinate the programme through a blended learning model involving digital tools and supervised teaching practice, working alongside agencies such as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

Separately, the NTI announced the release of 608 pending degree certificates for 2020 graduates of its Bachelor Degree Programme, which is affiliated with the University of Maiduguri. Director and Chief Executive Professor Sadiya Sani Daura stated that the Institute has been working with affiliating universities to resolve certification delays, following the previous release of over 16,000 certificates.