Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Thousands of Nigerian and Ghanaian-trained teachers hoping to secure Qualified Teacher Status in England have been dealt a significant setback after the UK Department for Education removed both countries from the list of nations whose teachers can use the direct application service. The change, which took effect on September 9, 2026, also affects teachers trained in India, leaving South Africa as the only African country whose teachers can still access the streamlined route.
The decision was announced in an update to the UK government's official guidance on overseas-trained teachers applying for QTS. Under the revised rules, a country must have a national regulator capable of confirming a teacher's professional standing and must be able to provide employment references that meet the department's verification requirements. The DfE said Nigeria and Ghana failed to satisfy the second requirement, citing the nature of employment references submitted by applicants from the two countries.
"Our data shows that more than 70% of applications from teachers in Ghana and Nigeria include work history references that use public email addresses, such as Gmail or Hotmail, rather than a school's official email domain," the department stated. "This means assessors spend additional time and resources trying to verify information provided in applications." The department added that it must be confident that information supplied by applicants is genuine to ensure that overseas teachers awarded QTS possess the skills and experience needed to teach in English schools. India was removed for a separate reason: it does not have a national regulator capable of confirming teachers' professional standing.
The implications of the change are substantial. According to data from the UK Department for Education, teachers trained in Nigeria and Ghana submitted 2,143 applications for QTS in the 2024–25 academic year. Nigeria accounted for 1,076 applications, while Ghana accounted for 1,067. Of these, 560 applications resulted in QTS awards, while 1,348 were declined. The removal of the direct route means that thousands of prospective applicants from both countries will now have to navigate a more complex and uncertain pathway to securing QTS.
QTS is the professional status used in England and is a legal requirement to teach in many state schools, although it is not required in every type of school, including some academies, free schools and private schools. Having QTS means schools in England are more likely to employ a teacher, but the application service itself does not award a teaching job or help with a visa. Teachers in England are employed by individual schools, not by the Department for Education.
The change does not amount to a permanent ban on Nigerian or Ghanaian teachers working in England. The UK government has outlined alternative routes that affected teachers can pursue. Under the so-called "four-year rule," qualified teachers from outside the UK can work as unqualified teachers in state-maintained schools and non-maintained special schools in England for up to four calendar years. This period starts on the first day of employment in a maintained UK school and does not stop with any breaks in employment. After four years, however, QTS is required to teach in many schools.
For teachers with substantial classroom experience, the assessment-only route offers a way to obtain QTS without completing a formal teacher-training programme. This route allows experienced teachers with a degree to demonstrate that they already meet all the QTS standards. Entry criteria generally include having worked in two or more schools, holding a degree equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree, and having GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and mathematics, and in science for those who wish to teach primary. The assessment typically takes up to 12 weeks, with costs varying by provider. For applications received from April 1, 2026, the total cost at one provider, the University of Hertfordshire, is £2,750. Another provider, Kingston University, lists a fee of £3,100 for the 2026/27 academic year.
A third option is the International Qualified Teacher Status programme, a UK government-backed qualification that is recognised by the Department for Education as equivalent to English QTS. The iQTS programme is designed for teachers living and working outside the UK and meets the same high standards as English QTS, leading to the automatic award of QTS upon completion. The course is typically 12 months in duration and is taught in English. Several UK universities offer the programme, including the University of Buckingham, which runs a 37-week iQTS with PGCE course starting in September 2026, and the University of Chichester. The iQTS allows teachers to train in the country where they live and work, with no need to visit England.
Teachers can also pursue a traditional teacher-training programme in England, which leads to QTS upon successful completion. However, this route requires relocation to the UK and is subject to visa requirements.
The removal of Nigeria and Ghana from the direct QTS route follows a broader trend of tightening eligibility requirements for overseas-trained teachers. The DfE's updated guidance states that to remain eligible for the direct service, a country must have a national regulator that can confirm a teacher's professional standing and must be able to provide references that meet the UK government's verification requirements. These requirements are designed to strengthen the verification process and ensure that only the highest quality teachers are awarded QTS.
For Nigerian and Ghanaian teachers who are currently working in England under the four-year rule, the change does not affect their existing employment status. They can continue to work for the duration of their four-year period. However, those who had been planning to use the direct QTS application service will now need to explore alternative routes, which may involve additional time, cost and uncertainty. Teachers who are not currently working in a valid teaching role in England may still be eligible for the assessment-only route if they meet the additional requirements.
The DfE has advised teachers who are no longer eligible to use the QTS application service to explore other routes into teaching. The department's guidance states that many teachers will not meet the requirements for QTS and that those who are not eligible may be able to find an alternative route that better suits their circumstances. For now, Nigerian and Ghanaian teachers seeking to build a career in English classrooms must navigate a more challenging path, one that requires patience, resources and a willingness to adapt to the new rules.
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