Ekiti TESCOM Controversy: Newly Employed Teachers Without Professional Qualifications Plead for Grace Period as Principals Order Return of Appointment Letters

The Ekiti Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) reportedly issued appointment letters to some newly recruited teachers lacking the standard professional educational qualifications including the National Certificate in Education (N.C.E), Bachelor of Education (B. Ed), or Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE). This revelation is particularly striking given that possession of such qualifications was explicitly emphasised as a core requirement during the recruitment process.

Details remain unclear as to how this apparent oversight occurred, but the situation has already triggered a swift response from educational stakeholders. Mr. Akinbode O. Oke, President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) in Ekiti State, promptly directed all public secondary school principals to instruct those affected teachers to immediately return their appointment letters. This directive was formally communicated in an internal memorandum dated 26th October 2025, which emphasised strict adherence and reporting of any unqualified appointees to the Permanent Secretary of TESCOM without delay. Mr. Oke’s letter underscored a firm commitment to uphold professional standards within Ekiti’s teaching community.

However, the teachers caught in this predicament have collectively submitted a heartfelt appeal to TESCOM, pleading for a two-year probationary period to allow them sufficient time to obtain their PGDE certificates. Their letter to the Commission, also dated 26th October 2025, outlines that most of these teachers already possess recognised bachelor’s degrees and have either started or are preparing to enrol in the requisite PGDE programme. They stress their conscientious service since taking up their duties and express a strong desire to meet the Commission’s professional qualification requirements in due course.

The appeal urges TESCOM to consider this probation period as a fair compromise, allowing the teachers to formalise their qualifications without abrupt termination, thus maintaining continuity in classroom instruction across Ekiti State. The signatories express genuine gratitude for the opportunity to serve and pledge their utmost dedication to the educational mission.

As this story unfolds, stakeholders await TESCOM’s response and the resolution of this dilemma that touches on both regulatory compliance and the practical realities facing the State’s educational workforce. The balance between maintaining high teaching standards and accommodating earnest, qualified but uncertified teachers hangs in the balance, with significant implications for Ekiti’s educational sector.