TRCN Sets 2027 Deadline to Flush Out Unqualified Teachers from Classrooms
By Wilfred Chukwuma
The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has declared that by 2027, individuals without recognised education qualifications will no longer be allowed to teach in both public and private schools across the country.
Registrar and Chief Executive of TRCN, Dr Ronke Soyombo, issued the warning on Thursday during the 10th induction ceremony of newly qualified teachers at the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu.
Soyombo disclosed that although a large number of teachers currently lack formal education degrees, about 75 per cent of them will be given a grace period to remain in the system until December 2026. Full enforcement of the policy, she said, will commence thereafter.
Inductees at the Event
She expressed deep concern over the prevalence of unqualified teachers, particularly in private schools, noting that the trend poses a serious threat to the quality of education and the future of Nigerian children.
According to her, “We have made it clear that anyone without an education degree will not be allowed in the system. However, about 75 per cent of those currently teaching without the required qualifications will be allowed to remain until the end of December 2026. By 2027, no unqualified teacher will be found in our classrooms, whether in public or private schools.
“It is alarming that in private schools, at least 80 per cent of our children are taught by unqualified teachers. This must change.”
To address the gap, Soyombo revealed that TRCN is working in collaboration with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, and the National Teachers’ Institute (NTI) to roll out an Accelerated Teachers Professionalisation Programme (ATPP). The six-month initiative is targeted at teachers with up to two years of experience in recognised schools, enabling them to meet professional standards.
TRCN officials and some staff members of FCE Eha-Amufu
She described the induction ceremony as a defining moment in the careers of the new teachers, urging them to view the profession as a noble calling that demands dedication, compassion, and continuous self-improvement.
“You must work smart, communicate effectively with your students, think critically, and remain creative. The 21st-century teacher must constantly upgrade his or her knowledge,” she advised.
In her remarks, the Provost of the college, Prof. Pauline Ngozi Ikwuegbu, represented by the Acting Deputy Provost, Dr Cecilia Obioma Ezeh, described the induction as a formal entry into a profession entrusted with shaping the nation’s future.
Ezeh charged the inductees to uphold ethical standards, pursue excellence, and adapt to the evolving demands of modern teaching, while also commending TRCN’s efforts at strengthening professionalism in the sector.
Delivering an induction lecture titled “Teacher Education at the Crossroads: Declining Enrolment—The Way Forward,” Ezeh identified key challenges confronting teacher education in Nigeria, including poor funding, dwindling enrolment, inadequate infrastructure, and low societal regard for teachers. She called for increased government investment to reverse the trend.
Speaking on behalf of the inductees, Daniel Chidiebere Odo pledged their commitment to uphold the ethics and integrity of the profession.
Earlier, the College TRCN Desk Officer, Mrs Ifeanyi Julie Chukwuma, disclosed that over 300 graduate, including degree holders, Professional Diploma in Education (PDE), and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) recipients, were formally inducted into the teaching profession.
The College Registrar, Dr Francisca Nwamaka Ukwueze, represented by Rev. Canon Samuel Onyeidu, in a remark, appreciated the TRCN leadership and stakeholders for ensuring a successful ceremony.
EDITOR
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, as well as M.Sc Mass Communication at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
