The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has organised its Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) for 16,614 teachers nationwide, representing a significant step in the professionalisation of the teaching sector.
Acting Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of TRCN, Dr Stella-Maria Nwokeocha, who oversaw the examination in Abuja alongside officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, praised the smooth execution of the exercise.
However, Dr. Nwokeocha highlighted the financial difficulties faced by the council following its removal from the list of organisations directly funded by the Federal Government.
She lamented that these challenges have forced the council to significantly reduce operational expenses and rely heavily on support from development partners to sustain its activities, including staff training and payment of salaries.
“We met so many challenges but try to cut down on costs; everything boils down to sacrifice,” she stated.
“I praise the staff of the agency because they have been very understanding. For something like training, we had to cut down drastically and instead conduct group sessions.”
Dr. Nwokeocha called on the government to reconsider its funding strategy by reinstating the council in its budget or at least taking responsibility for staff salary payments.
TRCN’s Director of Certification and Licensing, Dr. Jacinta Ezeahurukwe, explained that the PQE is a mandatory step for licensing and certifying teachers to ensure they meet the professional standards required for teaching in Nigerian classrooms.
She highlighted the integration of new technology to improve the examination process.
Among the advancements is an app that automatically generates examination numbers for candidates, replacing the manual process, and features to detect impersonation, ensuring that only registered candidates participate in the exams.
“We are getting to a point where every candidate will be registering online. Each year we improve on our processes. As you can see today, the exam is more seamless than before because we have also tried to manage the crowd,” she said.
Dr. Ezeahurukwe added that soon, all candidates would be required to enrol online and independently generate their examination details.
The TRCN reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring only qualified and certified professionals are allowed to teach, positioning the council as a pivotal force in enhancing the quality of education in Nigeria.
