The UK government has exciting news for teachers from African countries.If you’re a teacher from Nigeria or a similar country, here’s what you need to know.
The UK government has recently announced a new work visa program aimed at providing numerous opportunities to teachers from African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, and others.
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This program opens up a wide range of possibilities for individuals interested in working and teaching in the UK.
Requirements to Apply for UK Work Visa for Nigerian Teachers:
- You must possess a bachelor’s degree to work in the UK for up to 2 years.
- Your employer will need to provide a skilled worker visa.
- An employer license is required from a sponsor, which can be a school, local authority, or academy trust.
Visa Categories:
The following visa categories are open to Nigerians:
- The Graduate Visa: Available for international students who complete their degree, allowing them to apply for a Graduate Visa with a sponsor from an eligible Home Office licensed student sponsor. It permits up to 2 years of work or job searching in the UK after studies.
- The High Potential Visa: Open to teachers with bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degrees from a global university. The degree must be more than 5 years old, and good English skills are required. It offers the possibility of switching to other visa types, like skilled worker visas, if requirements are met.
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Requirements for Teachers:
- You must have personal funds of 1,270 pounds.
- An offer for a teaching job is necessary.
- Without a bachelor’s, you can stay in the UK for up to 2 years, and with a PhD, you can stay for up to 3 years.
Eligible Countries and Criterion for Award of QTS
Starting from February next year, teachers from eligible countries, including Nigeria, can apply to the Teaching Regulation Agency and demonstrate that they meet the set criteria for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
The UK government has announced that over time, the teaching route will also be open to qualified teachers from countries outside the UK. The eligible countries include Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Singapore, South Africa, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe.
As of February this year:
- Qualified teachers from eligible countries can apply to the Teaching Regulation Agency.
- They must provide evidence that the criteria for the award of QTS have been met.
- The UK government plans to open up the teaching route to teachers from outside the UK in the future.
UK Implements New Visa Rules for Nigeria
The UK government has announced its plans to implement new visa rules for Nigeria due to the fact that 10 students from Nigeria bring an average of 9 dependants, the highest in the country. With this new visa program, the UK aims to attract talented teachers from around the world and provide them with the opportunity to work and teach in the UK.
Note: The influx of 10 Nigerian students with an average of 9 dependants has led to the introduction of new visa rules in the future.
