According to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, only 2.4 million teachers in Nigeria meet the necessary qualifications for their profession, out of a total of around four million teachers in the country. In a recent interview, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, Registrar of TRCN, pointed out that a significant number of private school teachers do not possess the TRCN qualification due to their lack of an educational degree. As per information on the TRCN website, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria.
It was officially formed under the TRCN Decree N0. 31 of 1993 (currently known as TRCN Act CAP T3 of 2004). Its primary responsibilities include overseeing and managing the Teaching Profession within all levels of the Nigerian Education system, encompassing both public and private institutions. Ajiboye pointed out that Nigeria has nearly four million teachers, but only around 2.4 million of them are currently registered with TRCN. He noted a concerning trend in private schools.
Eligibility for TRCN registration requires a B.Ed.
The trend revealed that a significant number of teachers do not meet the qualifications needed to register with TRCN. Eligibility for TRCN registration requires a Bachelor of Education degree, or a BSc or BA degree along with a PGDE or Professional Diploma in Education. Despite not meeting the necessary qualifications, a significant number of teachers working in private schools do not possess a Bachelor of Education degree or any form of graduate diploma in education. This results in their inability to become registered.
As a result, out of a total of over four million teachers nationwide, only approximately 2.4 million have achieved registration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria. It is clear that the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) emphasizes the need for a significant change in the delivery and standard of education and educators to meet Sustainable Development Goal Four. UNESCO states that the effectiveness of any education system relies heavily on the quality of its educators.
This distinction separates teachers from impostors.
Numerous research studies have consistently highlighted the crucial impact teachers have on enhancing the standard of education and academic achievements. As a result, SDG 4 emphasizes the need for a significant rise in the number of well-trained teachers and greater assistance from the global community for Teacher development programs in less developed nations. Decree 31 of 1993, now known as Act CAP T3 of 2004, led to the creation of the Council. After years of advocacy from educators and other interested parties, a regulatory body was finally established to meet their needs.
Furthermore, the TRCN Act has significant impacts on the field of education, as it aligns closely with the Legislation that governs other professional bodies such as those for Law, Medicine, Engineering, and Pharmacy. This demonstrates the broad scope and importance of the TRCN Act for the teaching profession. Henceforth, teachers will need to meet rigorous standards in intellect, professionalism, morality, social skills, and even mental well-being, similar to those seen in other esteemed professions. This distinction separates teachers from impostors and those without formal training.
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Similarly, no matter their position, all teachers must adhere to regulations and oversight in the same way other professionals do. Whether they work in schools, government agencies, or private companies, teachers are held accountable by the laws that govern their profession, just like doctors, lawyers, engineers, and pharmacists are in their own fields. Similarly, all individuals engaged in educational roles, whether teaching or overseeing educational activities, within the Nigerian education system, must be certified educators who have received proper training, registration, and Regulation.
