England removes Ghana and Nigeria from its direct QTS route over reference checks, leaving South Africa as Africa’s only eligible country
Keypoints:
- England removes Ghana and Nigeria from direct QTS service
- DfE cites problems verifying employment references
- South Africa remains Africa’s only eligible country
ENGLAND has removed Ghana and Nigeria from a route that allowed overseas-trained teachers to apply directly for Qualified Teacher Status, tightening access to professional recognition for thousands of teachers seeking recognition in England.
The change took effect on September 9, 2026, and applies specifically to the Department for Education’s ‘Apply for QTS in England’ service. It does not prevent Ghanaian or Nigerian teachers from working in England or obtaining QTS through other available routes.
Why England changed the rules
The Department for Education said countries must meet two conditions to remain eligible for the service: they must have a national regulator able to confirm teachers’ professional standing, and applicants must be able to provide employment references that meet verification requirements.
According to the department, more than 70 percent of applications from teachers trained in Ghana and Nigeria included work-history references using public email accounts such as Gmail or Hotmail instead of official school domains.
Officials said this required assessors to spend additional time and resources trying to authenticate information submitted with applications.
The DfE did not say the references were fraudulent. It said it must be confident that information supplied by applicants is genuine before QTS is awarded.
Thousands affected by route change
Official data shows the decision affects two of the largest African sources of applications to the scheme.
In the 2024–25 academic year, Nigeria accounted for 1,076 applications, of which 364 resulted in QTS and 599 were declined. Ghana generated 1,067 applications, with 196 leading to QTS and 749 declined.
Together, the two countries produced 2,143 applications out of 5,873 submitted worldwide through the service during the year.
The DfE notes that successful and declined applications do not necessarily add up to total applications because some cases remain under assessment or are withdrawn.
The figures underline the scale of interest among West African professionals in overseas employment. Africa Briefing has previously reported on strong interest among Ghanaian and Nigerian professionals in working abroad, with the UK among their preferred destinations.
South Africa now stands alone
Following the removal of Ghana and Nigeria, South Africa is now the only African country listed by the Department for Education as eligible under this particular overseas QTS route.
South Africa recorded 197 applications in 2024–25, with 82 resulting in QTS.
The change continues a narrowing of African participation in the direct recognition system. Zimbabwe was removed from the eligible-country list in January 2024 after the department said it had been unable to verify required documentation from the country.
The decision also comes as Ghana pursues other organised labour-mobility arrangements. Africa Briefing reported in July that The Bahamas was preparing to receive 300 Ghanaian teachers under an expanding bilateral employment arrangement.
It also adds another dimension to the broader debate over UK-Africa ties and professional mobility as African governments seek more predictable legal pathways for skilled workers.
Other routes remain open
For teachers in Ghana and Nigeria, the policy change does not close every route into English classrooms.
UK government guidance says qualified teachers from outside the UK can work in England for up to four years without QTS in many eligible roles under the ‘four-year rule’. Teachers may also pursue assessment-only QTS, undertake teacher training in England or explore international QTS programmes.
QTS remains particularly important for employment in maintained schools in England, although academies, free schools and private schools can employ teachers without it in some circumstances.
The distinction is important because describing the policy as a blanket ‘ban’ would go beyond what the government has announced. The restriction applies to one recognition service, albeit one that attracted thousands of applications from Ghana and Nigeria.
For prospective teachers, the immediate challenge will be identifying which alternative route is available, affordable and compatible with UK immigration and employment requirements.