Olufunke Aladejare
The Federal Government has directed the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to completely eliminate unqualified teachers from the classrooms.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the directive during the inauguration of the 5th Governing Board of the TRCN in Abuja.
He also asked the council to revoke licenses of teachers who tarnish the dignity of the profession. Thus directive came just as the Council is struggling for survival following the decision of the Federal Government to stop funding it.
NEWSTODAYNG recalled that the Federal Government in 2023 announced the stoppage of budgetary allocations for professional bodies and councils, with effect from January 2024.
The circular then from Budget Office of the Federation dated June 26, 2023 with reference number: DG/BDT/GEN. CORR/2016/XII/3067, asked those affected to begin to make adjustments early so they can continue to run their organisations seamlessly after the government might have withdrawn its financial support.
According to the memo, the decision was in line with the recommendation of the Presidential Committee on Salaries (PCS).
But speaking during the inauguration of the TRCN’s new Board, the Minister of Education, said it would no longer “business as usual” for the teaching profession in the country as Nigeria was poised to enforce best practices in the teaching profession.
His words: “Today marks not only the formal activation of a statutory governance structure but also a renewed commitment to professionalizing the teaching profession and repositioning our education system under the Renewed Hope Agenda of our dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
“We are also not merely inaugurating a board today, but igniting a revolution in the standards, dignity, and future of Nigeria’s teaching profession.
“Every Nigerian child deserves a certified professional with no exceptions.”
He charged the Council to leverage digital tools to streamline teacher certification, track continuous professional development (CPD), and anticipate the evolving demands of a modern learning environment, including artificial intelligence (AI) integration and hybrid instruction.
The Minister charged members of the council to enforce the ethical code of the profession with courage and praise excellence where it exists.
NB: Feature image is AI-generated
