TRCN laments absence of professional teachers in schools

.....says 2.3m teachers now certified, captured in ity database

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN, has said 2.4 million teachers in Nigeria certified after passing their professional qualifying examinations have been captured in its Teachers Information System, TIS database.

This came as it lamented that professional teachers were difficult to find in schools across the country, blaming the development on poor remuneration and other welfare packages.

Registrar of TRCN, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye ,who said these in Abuja, at a One-Day Capacity Building Workshop for members of the Education Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria, ECAN, explained that the council launched the Teachers Information System, database to checkmate quackery that was hitherto prevalent in the teaching field.

Speaking through TRCN's  Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr Lawrence Ugo-Ali, at the event with the theme:"Strengthening Teacher Education: Challenges and Opportunities in Basic Education Sub-Sector in Nigeria”, Prof. Ajiboye noted that teachers were key players in the nation's education sector.

He charged authorities to accord priority attention to teacher education, noting that it was necessary for national development.

 Prof. Ajiboye said: ”The Council, therefore, in fulfilling its mandates which involve innovations in public policies to upscale the dignity, rewards and recognition of the teaching profession in Nigeria, took some practical steps to salvage the situation.

 ”These among others are the career path policy for the teaching profession (Beginner, Proficient, Mentor and Distinguished).

 ”We have the elongation of teachers’ years of service from 60 to 65 years with other incentives, the Professional Qualifying Education,PQE."

 He disclosed that his organisation had also put in place digital literacy training and remote learning for 22,500 teachers across 16 states in the country to enhance the teaching profession.

The TRCN boss said Nigeria was not yet where it is in terms of having a promising educational sector, but steps were been taken to change the tide of the teaching profession.

Ajiboye enjoined ECAN to sustain its collaborative efforts at transforming the teaching profession in Nigeria through positive reportage, saying his organisation was not only willing but also  open to always partner with it.