The UK Department for Education (DfE) has barred teachers trained in Nigeria and Ghana from applying for the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England through the United Kingdom’s overseas-trained teacher application route.

The DfE said the change took effect on September 9, 2026, following a review of the countries whose teachers remain eligible under the scheme.

Under the QTS route, applicants are generally required to hold a valid and unexpired passport, an undergraduate degree equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree and professional recognition as a teacher in the country where they completed their training.

Applicants must also have completed all mandatory induction requirements needed to obtain full teacher registration in their country of qualification.

The DfE said applicants’ teaching qualifications and professional experience are assessed against strict requirements before QTS is awarded.

According to the department, an eligible country must have a national regulator capable of confirming a teacher’s professional standing and providing authenticated references.

It said Nigeria and Ghana were removed from the eligibility list after failing to meet the requirement.

“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 said.

“This means assessors spend additional time and resources trying to verify information provided in applications.”

The UK education department said about 90 per cent of applications are assessed within 12 months.

India was also removed from the list after the DfE determined that it did not have a national regulator capable of confirming applicants’ professional standing.

With the latest changes, South Africa is now the only African country remaining on the list of countries whose teachers can apply through the overseas-trained teacher route.

Explaining the requirement for reliable verification, the department said: “We must be confident that the information applicants provide is genuine. This helps ensure that overseas teachers awarded qualified teacher status have the skills and experience needed to teach in schools in England.”

1. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended his working vacation in Europe by a few days and will return this weekend, the Presidency announced yesterday.

But African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar and his party protested the extension.

The party even threatened a legal challenge to the action

2. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, has smashed an illegal factory in the Badagry area of Lagos State, where adulterated fruit juice branded as “Barkas Juice” was allegedly being produced. Two women were arrested in connection with the operation. The command’s Public Relations Officer, Oluwaseun Abolurin, disclosed in a statement on Monday that the suspects were arrested after operatives from the Badagry area conducted about five days of surveillance in collaboration with a Nigerian Army formation in the area.

3. Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, has asked the federal high court in Abuja to dismiss the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna governor, against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
During proceedings on Monday, the AGF, who was represented in court by Maimuna Lami-Shiru, a lawyer from the federal ministry of justice, said he had filed a counter-affidavit challenging el-Rufai’s suit.

4. Parents and community members of Mussa and Lassa in Askira/Uba Local Government Area of Borno State on Monday threatened to storm the Presidential Villa in Abuja within six days if their abducted children are not rescued from Boko Haram captivity. The distressed families, whose children have now spent more than 130 days in the hands of insurgents, expressed their frustration during a protest over the government’s perceived inaction in Askira/Uba.

5. The Nigerian Air Force has taken a major step towards the acquisition of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters following a beam-signing ceremony with Bell Textron in Amarillo, Texas, United States. The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, led a NAF delegation to the ceremony, which marked a significant milestone in the implementation of the Nigeria-United States Government defence cooperation programme.

6. Staff of Federal Unity Colleges nationwide defied the Federal Government’s directive to resume academic activities on Monday, insisting that their indefinite strike over the concession of King’s College, Lagos, remains in force. During visits to some Unity Colleges in Lagos and Ibadan on Monday, staff union members were sighted in front of the school gates, while parents largely stayed away despite the Federal Government’s resumption directive.

7. The Abia State Police Command has arrested four suspects for allegedly stealing a four-day-old baby from its mother, who is mentally challenged, and selling the infant to another person. The Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. She identified the suspects as Gladys Nathaniel, 48; Victor Udochukwu, 47; Chijioke Obunwa, 59; and Onyeonoro Chinwe, 43.

8. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed how the G-5 governors strategically worked against the presidential ambition of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the South-South during the 2023 election.
Wike disclosed this on Monday during an interview on TVC’s Journalists’ Hangout where he explained that the G-5 identified Atiku and the strength of the PDP in the region as a major concern and decided to allow Labour Party candidate Peter Obi to win some states.

9. Kwara State All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) governorship candidate for the 2027 general election, Yakubu Salihu, now has a new running mate. He is Oluwaseun Ogunniyi aka Adato. Ogunniyi represents Ojomu/Balogun Constituency in the House of Assembly. He hails from Offa in Offa Local Government

10. The Plateau State Government has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas of the state following attacks and killings in the LGAs. It was gathered that more than 20 people, including women and children, were killed in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos and Riyom LGAs within two days. Many houses were also burned in the attacks.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in New York, United States, to represent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The delegation’s participation will focus on advancing Nigeria’s national interests, strengthening multilateral cooperation and supporting President Tinubu’s call for reforms of global institutions to reflect current economic and demographic realities.

According to the Vice President, Nigeria would use its engagements at the global gathering to advocate a more representative and equitable international system, particularly for developing countries.

“Our message in New York is clear: Nigeria believes in multilateralism, but the institutions that govern our world must become more representative, equitable and responsive to the realities of today,” Shettima said.

Shettima added that Nigeria would engage its international partners from the standpoint of its national interest while pushing for greater opportunities for developing countries.

“We will engage our partners firmly from the standpoint of Nigeria’s national interest, while advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s call for a global system that gives developing countries a stronger voice and a fairer opportunity to prosper,” he said.

The 81st UN General Assembly brings together world leaders and senior government officials to deliberate on global challenges, international cooperation and issues affecting peace, development and economic prosperity.