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From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has announced a sweeping reform aimed at eliminating unqualified teachers from Nigeria’s education system, declaring that only holders of education degrees will be allowed to teach from 2027.
The Registrar and Chief Executive of the TRCN, Dr Ronke Soyombo, disclosed this yesterday during the Council’s 10th induction ceremony for newly qualified teachers at the Federal College of Education (FCE), Eha-Amufu, Enugu State.
Soyombo said the move is part of efforts to rid the profession of quackery and reposition teaching for improved learning outcomes, especially among younger generations.
She explained that about 75 per cent of teachers currently without education degrees would be allowed to remain in the system temporarily, but only until December 2026.
“By 2027, I can guarantee that nobody without an education degree will be found in classrooms, whether in private or public schools,” she stated.
The TRCN boss expressed concern over the quality of teaching in private schools, revealing that a large proportion of teachers in that sector are unqualified.
“At least 80 per cent of children in private schools are being taught by unprofessional teachers, and this should not be so. The time has come to retrieve the system from quacks,” she added.
To ease the transition, Soyombo said the council is collaborating with the minister of education, Tunji Alausa, and the National Teachers Institute (NTI) to introduce a six-month Accelerated Teachers Professionalisation Programme (ATPP). The programme, she said, is designed for individuals who have spent up to two years teaching in recognised schools.
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Addressing the inductees, Soyombo described the ceremony as a significant milestone rather than a mere formality, noting that it marks their formal entry into a noble and demanding profession.
“Teaching is a calling that requires compassion, care, and dedication. You must work smart, communicate effectively, and continuously develop yourself to meet the demands of the 21st-century classroom,” she advised.
In her remarks, the Provost of the College, Prof. Pauline Ngozi Ikwuegbu, described the induction as a symbol of entry into a community entrusted with shaping minds and building the nation’s future. She was represented at the event by the Acting Deputy Provost, Dr Cecilia Obioma Ezeh.
Ezeh urged the new teachers to uphold professional ethics, demonstrate commitment to excellence, and remain adaptable in a dynamic educational system. She also commended the TRCN for its sustained efforts in professionalising teaching in Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the inductees, Daniel Chidiebere Odo pledged that they would uphold the ethics and integrity of the teaching profession.
The college registrar, Francisca Ukwueze, represented by Rev. Canon Samuel Onyeidu, expressed appreciation to the TRCN leadership, including the Enugu State Coordinator, Ada Nneka Onyebuchi, for their support.
The event also featured an induction lecture titled “Teacher Education at the Crossroads: Declined Enrolment – The Way Forward”, delivered by Dr Ezeh. She identified poor funding, declining enrolment, inadequate infrastructure, and low societal perception of teachers as major challenges facing teacher education in Nigeria and called for improved government investment in the sector.
Earlier, the college’s TRCN desk officer, Mrs Ifeanyi Julie Chukwuma, disclosed that over 300 graduates, including holders of degrees, the Professional Diploma in Education (PDE), and the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE), were formally inducted into the teaching profession.
