By Felix Khanoba
The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has said that its ongoing digital transformation initiatives are significantly enhancing teachers’ access to certification, licensing, and other professional services across the country.
Registrar of the council, Dr Ronke Soyombo, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during a news conference where she presented a report on the council’s digital transformation performance.
Soyombo explained that the council was ramping up digital reforms and professional support programmes aimed at ensuring full certification of teachers nationwide by 2027.
She noted that the reforms were part of strategic targets introduced shortly after she assumed office, covering 100-day, six-month, and two-year implementation plans to modernise teacher regulation in Nigeria.
According to her, the unveiling of the TRCN digital portal and website on Aug. 26, 2025, represented a significant breakthrough in resolving long-standing complaints from teachers regarding delays in certification and licensing.
She stated that the platform now allows candidates who participate in the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) to receive their results within one week and complete certificate or licence processing online without difficulty.
“We created a robust digital platform because many teachers complained that they wrote examinations years ago without receiving their certificates.
“With the portal, teachers can now access our services easily, making the entire process faster and more transparent,” she said.
Soyombo further revealed that the improved system had led to increased participation in TRCN examinations, with the number of candidates rising from about 13,000 earlier in 2025 to 26,500 following the launch of the portal.
She added that female participation had reached 52.1 per cent, while 11,761 candidates had already registered for the upcoming May PQE.
The registrar, however, pointed to digital skills gaps in some states as a challenge, noting that the council was expanding support measures to promote inclusiveness, particularly for teachers in rural areas.
She also disclosed that the council had introduced career path assessment programmes designed to evaluate teachers’ competencies.
Soyombo announced plans to create a national criminal record database for teachers, in collaboration with security agencies, as part of efforts to strengthen child protection and improve school safety.
She reaffirmed TRCN’s commitment to advancing the teaching profession and ensuring Nigerian teachers remain competitive globally.
“Our goal is to raise the profile of teachers and ensure they meet global professional standards, while also protecting Nigerian children through quality education delivery,” she said.
Responding to reports of a temporary disruption of the TRCN portal, Soyombo clarified that the platform experienced downtime for one week in December 2025 due to technical issues involving a service provider.
She acknowledged ongoing challenges such as limited digital literacy and poor internet connectivity in some parts of the country, adding that teachers could still access services through TRCN state offices and designated desk officers in tertiary institutions.
Soyombo reiterated the council’s dedication to inclusive teacher regulation and continuous professional development nationwide.
“We are still a work in progress, but our focus is to ensure that every teacher, regardless of location, benefits from these reforms,” she said.
