Soon, teachers must have a University degree to teach — FG

A university degree will soon be the minimum teaching qualification for teachers at all levels of education in Nigeria, Punch reports.

The Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau

Shekarau said the government is determined to do all that is necessary to restore the respect, dignity and status of Nigerian teachers.

According to him, the Federal Government plans to "make First Degree as minimum teaching qualification” in the country.

"We hope that a day will come when all our schools, including pre-primary will be handled by university graduates,” Shekarau said.

The Minister revealed that the minimum teaching qualification in Nigerian schools has been the National Certificate in Education(NCE) since 1980, preceded by Teacher Grade II in the early 70s and

Teacher Grade III in the 1960s.

“The level was raised to Teacher Grade III in the 1960s and later on in the early 70s, it was minimum of Grade II, this was later phased out in early 80s to minimum of NCE," he added.

“Gradually we will get there."

He added that the government also plans to improve the quality of education and teachers.

“We must continuously increase the number of teachers, improve the quality of teachers, improve the condition of teacher training institutions and continuously review the curriculum of teacher education to make sure it catches up with the challenges, address that issues of teachers’ welfare and job security."

Suomela-Chowdhur had said the minimum qualification for Finland's "highly competitive profession" is a Master’s Degree.