By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Government has mandated the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) to rid Nigerian classrooms of unqualified educators in a sweeping move to uplift the teaching profession.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, issued the directive on Friday during the inauguration of the 5th Governing Council of TRCN in Abuja. He also instructed the council to withdraw the licenses of educators who bring disrepute to the profession.
He declared that the days of mediocrity in teaching are over, noting that the government is determined to enforce global best practices in education.
“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,” Alausa said.
“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.”
The minister urged the new council to embrace digital solutions to improve teacher certification processes, track continuous professional development (CPD), and meet the evolving demands of modern education, such as artificial intelligence and hybrid learning systems.
He also called for strict enforcement of the teaching profession’s ethical codes while recognizing and rewarding excellence where it is found.
Alausa encouraged collaboration with state governments, teachers’ unions, and international organizations such as UNESCO to raise local standards to meet global expectations.
“Let us emulate the best. In Finland for example, teachers are revered like doctors. We must strive toward that ethos here in Nigeria, where our teachers are celebrated not just as facilitators of knowledge, but as nation builders.
“This administration, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has made it clear that no education system can rise above the quality of its teachers. Therefore, the Ministry is pursuing numerous initiatives to ensure teacher quality and welfare.”
Chairman of the Governing Council, Comrade Mustapha Saliu, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the Minister for the trust placed in the council. He pledged the board’s full dedication to fulfilling its mandate.
Reaffirming the crucial role of teachers in both education and society, Saliu urged council members to work diligently to reposition the profession for the benefit of learners and national progress.
He also appealed to President Tinubu to reinstate TRCN’s funding, emphasizing the importance of adequate financial support—particularly for staff salaries—to improve morale and drive performance.
TRCN Registrar, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, applauded the Federal Government’s efforts in reforming the education sector and assured stakeholders that the council is committed to ensuring Nigerian teachers are professionally equipped and globally recognized.
