THE Federal Government has said that only 157,000 teachers have passed the prescribed professional qualifying examination conducted by the Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria and issued with licences to practice in Nigeria.
Minister of State for Education, Professor Anthony Anwukah, made this known on Thursday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen on the activities lined up for the celebration of 2018 World Teachers’ Day holding on Friday.
He, however, disclosed that the Council has successfully registered over 2 million teachers in various categories at all levels and sectors of the education system in the country.
Anwukah warned that December 2019 has been set as the deadline for all teachers willing to practice in Nigeria to register and pass the prescribed professional qualifying examination conducted by TRCN.
He added that from January 2020 any teacher not certified by TRCN would not be allowed to practice in Nigeria.
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He said: “In order to enhance the professionalism and dignity of the teaching profession, it is now required of every teacher to register and obtain a professional licence from TRCN.
“This is in tandem with international best practices and a means of updating the professionals on issues germane to their growth and development in the profession.
“The examination is meant to attest to the practical proficiency and ability to discharge the teaching duties by prospective applicants. The examination is a computer-based test and first took place on 14th October 2017 across all the States of the federation.
“The first diet for 2018 had taken place from 7-8th June, while the second diet is scheduled to hold in October 2018,” he said.
He added that in order to compel professors in universities to fully participate in the certification process, a Post-Doctoral Diploma in Education has been introduced by the National Universities Commission (NUC), urging the TRCN to ensure that everybody who is teaching in the classroom is certified and has the competence to teach at whatever level of education.
The minister lamented the enormous challenges which have continued to plague the education sector as a result of many years of inadequate funding.
He also admitted that the teaching profession has been experiencing less attraction to Nigerians, partly because of the unattractive salary paid to teachers.
He said: “It is not rare to see cases where there are 100 pupils for one teacher as against the UNESCO benchmark of 40 students per teacher.
“In many places, students learn under trees for lack of classrooms as it is the case in Northeastern Nigeria where the scourge of insurgency has deprived many children of access to education,” he said.
He noted that the grand finale of the World Teachers’ Day holding on Friday at Eagle Square Abuja, would feature presentation of awards to deserving teachers, school administrators and schools.
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