The Nation Newspaper

Tag: TRCN

  • We’re bringing back teachers displaced in Northeast, says TRCN

    THE Registrar of Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Prof. Segun Ajiboye, said yesterday that the council is now bringing back to the classrooms teachers, who have deserted the Northeast zone due to terrorism and insurgencies.

    He said the plan is to motivate and change the psyche of the traumatised teachers to return to school.

    Ajiboye, who spoke with reporters in Ibadan, said some of the teachers lost their certificates to terrorism, but have been restored by the intervention of the council.

    According the TRCN, bringing back the teachers would improve knowledge transmission to students in the Northeast.

    He said “Actually, it is disheartening we are affected and we can’t pretend. We have lost so many teachers to insecurity, especially in the Northeast. It created trauma. Pupils left the schools. They don’t want to come. The teachers themselves left because of what has happened to their colleagues.

    Read also: TRCN insists on Dec 2019 deadline for teachers’ registration

    “What we are doing is to bring back our teachers, especially in the Northeast. A lot of interventions are going on to motivate the teachers and change their psyche.

    “So, many of them left the teaching profession and they don’t want to come back. But now, sanity is returning and our teachers are coming back. Some of them lost their certificates to insurgency.”

    On the deadline to register as professional teachers, Ajiboye stated that full enforcement against unregistered and unlicensed teachers would begin in January 2020.

    The TRCN boss said any teacher not registered by the council by December 31, 2019, will not be allowed to practice anymore in Nigeria.

    According to him, a letter of reminder is being written to Commissioners of Education and the Education Secretary in the Federal Capital Territory on the need to ensure that practising teachers in their states get valid licence before the deadline.

  • TRCN insists on Dec 2019 deadline for teachers’ registration

    TEACHERS Registration Council of Nigeria Registrar/Executive Director Prof. Segun Ajiboye yesterday insisted that there is no going back on the December 2019 deadline given to teachers in basic, primary and secondary schools to be qualified and registered with the council.

    He warned that by the end of December 2019, there will be total enforcement of the law and that the council will make sure that the decision of the National Council on Education is enforced to the letter.

    According to Ajiboye, the council would make sure that it weeds out those who are not qualified from the classrooms and make sure that only those who are qualified and registered by the TRCN are allowed to practice and teach in schools.

    He spoke yesterday while giving an overview on the plans of the council for 2019.

    He said: “We want to thank God for the year 2018. TRCN was able to stand to the test of time by enforcing the regulations that guides the teaching profession in Nigeria.

    Read also: APC alleges anti-Buhari plot as PDP knocks rally

    “As we look forward to 2019, the TRCN intends to do more in the areas of registration of new teachers, which is actually compulsory and mandatory.

    “The December 2019 has been fixed as the deadline for anyone, who wants to teach in Nigeria to get qualified and get registered by the TRCN. The deadline once again is December 2019.

    “So, as we approach this deadline, we believe that as many as possible among those who are still teaching in our schools and who call themselves teachers, but are yet to get qualified and are yet to be registered and be licenced by the TRCN will do so without delay.

    “So, 2019 is very critical to the TRCN, to achieving the TRCN mandate.”

  • Nigeria has two million registered teachers, says TRCN

    THE Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has stated that there are two million qualified and registered teachers across the country.

    Its Registrar, Prof. Olusegun Ajiboye, said the country is in need of 250,000 teachers annually to cater to the growing population of pupils.

    He noted that as a country with the largest number of out-of-school-children, there was need for adequate teachers to meet the learning and teaching needs of children.

    Prof. Ajiboye described the situation of teachers in some states as “appalling” as some government schools have only two to four teachers.

    He said the sub-Saharan African region has a shortfall of about seven million school teachers, and Nigeria carried a significant portion of that number, because of the country’s large number of out-of-school children – presently put about over 13 million kids.

    Ajiboye said: “Education is very critical to the development of any country. Just like every other profession, quackery is a problem and we want to remove quack teachers also from our schools. What we are doing is to sensitise the people that quacks must be reported. Also, teachers who are still in school without the TRCN certification should do this before the deadline.

    “So far, the TRCN has registered two million teachers all over the country since the council was registered. By registering, we mean those teachers who are qualified and have come forward for registration.”

  • 51 Lagos teachers fail professional exam, says TRCN

    Fifty-one teachers have failed the professional qualifying examination (PQE) conducted by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) in Lagos State.

    The state Coordinator of the council, Mr Gbolahan Enilolobo, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos that 412 teachers sat for the exam.

    Enilolobo said the teachers failed because they were not conversant with use of the computer.

    NAN reports that the TRCN, on October 14, conducted the examination through Computer-Based Test (CBT).

    The examination was to qualify the successful teachers to register as professionals and be licensed with the council.

    According to Enilolobo, the unsuccessful teachers will re-register for the exam and will be disqualified if they fail three consecutive attempts.

    He said: “The failure of the teachers is due to their inability to use the computer, especially as it was the first time they were using CBT for the examination. About three of the teachers exited without even completing the examination, indicating their being unfamiliar with the system at all.

    “Those who failed will have to re-sit for the examination. But if a failure occurs consecutively three times, it means automatic disqualification. Such teachers cannot be licensed.”

    Giving the statistics of teachers in attendance, Enilolobo said one PhD holder, 30 Master’s degree holders, 282 first degree and 99 holders of National Certificate of Education (NCE) sat for the exam.

    The coordinator said nine of the Master’s degree holders failed.

    According to him, 257 of the 282 first degree holders passed, while 82 NCE holders passed.

    Enilolobo said: “The only PhD holder teacher also passed the examination.”

    The coordinator said the teachers were the first set to write the examination and were a bit disadvantaged because there were no past questions to enable them familiarise with the national benchmark of the examination.

    “Teachers should align themselves with computer to reduce the number of failures. Materials can be obtained from bookshops,” he added.

     

     

  • There are 207,818 unqualified teachers in primary schools – TRCN

    There are 207,818 unqualified teachers in primary schools – TRCN

    There are 207, 818 unqualified teachers in primary schools across Nigeria, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) said on Wednesday.

    Its Registrar, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, said this in a paper presented to mark 2017 World Teachers’ Day in Abuja.

    He said the North East has 57.7 per cent of the total figure because of the activities of Boko Haram in the region.

    Ajiboye said: “There are 207, 818 unqualified teachers in the primary schools. The North East zone has the highest figure of 57.7 per cent. Undoubtedly, the situation degenerated with invasion of insurgents.

    “The North West has 46.8 per cent, North Central 38 per cent, South-South 19.2 per cent, South-East 16.7 per cent and South-West 6.7 per cent.”

    According to him, an experiment carried out by the agency in 2014 showed that 1,300 out of 1,599  teachers failed arithmetic and basic literacy tests, scoring below 25 per cent.

    “All these are adding to the problems of ascertaining the quality of teachers in Nigeria. The hydra-headed crisis-quality and quantity of teachers demands a strong policy response.”

    He said Boko Haram has killed 611 teachers since 2009.

    “In Nigeria, since the beginning of the Boko Haram attacks in 2009 till date, over 611 teachers were killed and 19,000 displaced in the North East,” he added.

    He called on the Federal Government to pay attention to teachers’ welfare and organize professional training for them.

    “Improving teachers’ welfare packages and regular payment of salaries and allowances, will eventually improve teachers’ job performances, productivity and job satisfaction.

    “Teachers’ professional development should be taken with all seriousness so as to build teachers’ capacity and improve students learning,” Ajiboye said.

    He said the agency has registered and certified over 1.8 million teachers since the inception of the Council.

     

  • TRCN and teachers professionalism

    TRCN and teachers professionalism

    Teachers are critical nation builders. With a standard and up-to-date teacher, qualitative impartation of knowledge will never be in doubt with glowing outcomes. It is on this strength that a nation cannot grow beyond the quality of her teachers (and the way it treats her teachers). Teachers are responsible for the production of the needed professionals to drive the health, socio-economic, and industrial sectors of the nation. Hence, no serious country should joke with treating her teachers well. A pool of poorly trained doctors, lawyers, engineers; pharmacists is a calamity waiting to happen. We all know the consequences of being operated upon by a quack doctor or consulting a quack engineer for a building project. This perhaps explains why the decision to weed out ‘cheaters’ from ‘teachers’ should be commended.

    There is no doubt that the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has been catalysed with the recent appointment of former ASUU leader, Professor Olusegun Ajiboye as its Registrar. By January 2018, the Federal Ministry of Education has promised full implementation of “No TRCN Certificate, No Job” policy. Those in classrooms without TRCN certificate are also going to be thrown out of the classrooms.

    Till date, close to 1.7 million professional teachers have been registered by the council in her drive to rid the profession of quacks. As part of the policy drive of the present administration, the Federal Ministry of Education has joined forces with the council towards implementing its policy not to allow any person without a professional certification from the TRCN to teach any child in Nigeria’s public and private schools. This is a welcome development in the light of the dismal performances in Nigeria’s education sector. Regular examination and training may be needed for teachers to update their knowledge in line with global best practices. Nigerian children cannot be left behind while their counterparts across the globe are in tune with current state of knowledge. In order to set the tone for the implementation of professional standards, TRCN recently organised a workshop at the University of Ibadan where far reaching recommendations were made.

    In the communiqué signed by Professor Olusegun Ajiboye, experts at the three-day workshop resolved that TRCN certificate and license should be used as part of the requirements for the employment of teachers in all states in the country. If this recommendation is followed the issue of professionalism in the teaching profession will get the desired attention. However, political convenience among politicians may be a clog in the wheel of this suggestion as Nigerian politicians have been known to sacrifice the pursuit of the common good for selfish, personal interest.

    Nigeria’s education suffers because those formulating policies in the area of teaching are not even core professionals. This perhaps explains why the workshop recommended that policy makers in education in Nigeria must themselves be professional teachers and hold TRCN certificates. This is a valid suggestion as only those who wear the shoe know where it pinches. It goes to say that round pegs should be put in round holes. Nigeria obviously suffers because critical sectors of the economy are manned by people who do not have the requisite expertise to deliver on the job. Even when people are nominated for political appointments, the executive which ought to use qualification in assigning responsibilities usually does not.

    The Minister of State for Education Professor Anthony Onwuka has threatened not to employ anybody without TRCN certificate into the teaching profession again and sack those already teaching without holding TRCN certificate from 2018. This is why the suggestion that a mechanism should be put in place to check procurement of fake certificates and licences should be seriously implemented. A lot must be done to ensure that those teaching in private schools are cleaned-out while monetary expectations of proprietors causing marks to be ‘allocated’ rather than ‘earned’ must be investigated and sanctioned.

    The experts also made case for periodic examination of teachers to validate their licenses in such a way that teachers who do not meet the criteria could be allowed to undergo in-service, in-house training or even a full-time programme and those who are unable to cope should be shown the way out of the classroom. This, to me, is to prevent rustiness among teachers. This move if faithfully implemented will ensure that Nigerian teachers regularly update themselves knowing that a periodic examination will determine their fates. There is however a major contention to the policy. The Minister of State for Education threatened that implementation will start next year and nobody will be speared no matter how highly placed. This includes lecturers in tertiary institutions who have shown reluctance from registering with TRCN. Lecturers in tertiary institutions were enjoined to enrol for Post-doctoral Diploma in Education (PDDE).

    Teaching covers all fields of knowledge with its unique training focused on methods of imparting knowledge and these differ with many teachers having no training at all in methods. Instead of instruction in teaching, university lecturers have long period of training in a specialised field of knowledge which makes them to see themselves as professional sociologists, chemists, psychologists, economists rather than professional teachers. Unlike teachers, university lecturers enjoy autonomy fought and won by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) with the Senate taking decisions. They decide who to hire and fire and enjoyed considerable autonomy. Can principals of primary and secondary schools employ teachers without the state? In the universities, students interested in becoming professional teachers come to Faculty of the Social Sciences, Arts or Sciences to borrow teaching courses in Economics, Political Science, Chemistry, Physics, English to mention but a few. Let induction by TRCN stay with those in Faculties of Education.

    Methinks TRCN should champion what will enhance the prestige of the ‘profession’, design welfare package and ensure teachers discharge their duties in a clement environment. A TRCN-certified teacher teaching students under roofless classrooms or under the tree will be a magician to be able to impart anything in a distracting context. A TRCN certificate with regular funding of education and supply of necessary materials will boost morale. Extortion and corrupt activities will fester when teachers’ salaries are unpaid for months. We cannot treat our teachers as inconsequential and expect them to deliver the best for Nigeria’s future. Beyond the TRCN certification, teachers deserve the best and need recognition.

     

    • Dr Tade, a sociologist sent in this piece via dotad2003@yahoo.com

  • Teachers must go through regular checks, says TRCN

    Teachers are to be appraised periodically, the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has said.

    It warned that any teacher who failed the assessment would be shown the way out.

    This was part of the communiqué of the TRCN National Training of the Trainer (ToT) workshop on Implementation of the Professional Standard for Nigerian Teachers held at the University of Ibadan.

    To filter quacks from the system, TRCN urged the government to accept its certificates for employment in the state and the Federal civil service.

    The Council is planning to adopt a code of dressing for teachers. It  said it would partner the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and other relevant bodies in this drive for professionalism.

    “Teachers should be examined periodically to validate their licences. Teachers that do not meet certain standards could be allowed to undergo in-service, in-house training or even a full time programme, and those who are not able to cope should be shown the way out of the classroom,” the TRCN stated.

    While the Council vows that the era of treating erring teachers with kid gloves was over, it, recommended handsome rewards for those found to be outstanding. It also advised the government against recruiting non-educationists as policy makers on education.

    Lecturers in universities are not exempted. The Council, which has come up with the Post-Doctoral Diploma in Education (PDDE), admonished  their colleagues with PhD to enrol for it.

    Other recommendations include TRCN working with private school owners to ensure compliance with the  TRCN Act; extension of teaching practice (TP); allowing beginner- teachers to acquire TRCN certificate before being licensed; as well as TRCN’s involvement in accreditation of teacher education programme in tertiary institutions in the country.

    The communiqué, which comprised 12 members, was signed by TRCN Registrar/CEO Prof Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye.

    The three-day conference, which featured 203 participants, had as its keynote speaker Emeritus Professor Pai Obanya, who delivered a paper on the theme: ‘The indispensability of teachers professional standard.’

    Other stakeholders included representatives from NUT, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), National Teachers Institute (NTI), Federal Ministry of Education, and Vice Chancellors.

    Earlier, the Minister of State for Education Prof Anthony Onwuka, represented by the Minister for Education Mallam Adamu Adamu, re-emphasised the commitment of the Federal Government to professionalise teaching across all levels.

    Onwuka urged lecturers to take advantage of PDDE, adding that from 2008, the Federal Government would move against misfits in the system regardless of tehir positions.

     

  • Govt to stop uncertified teachers, says TRCN

    Govt to stop uncertified teachers, says TRCN

    The Federal Government has said it will not allow any teacher without professional certificate of the Teachers’ Registration Council (TRCN) to teach beyond 2017.
    This is part of the three-year ministerial strategic plan by the Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu, which is designed to end unqualified teachers in schools.
    The Registrar/Chief Executive TRCN Prof Olusegun Ajiboye, made the disclosure in Ibadan on Tuesday. He said under his watch, the Council has registered about 1.6 million teachers nationwide.
    According to Ajiboye, the Council would put a stop to normal registration at the end of May 2017.
    He said the first professional qualifying examination of TRCN would take place at the end of September, adding that the exercise was designed to fully professionalise teaching in Nigeria and ensure that only those qualified are employed by government.
    Ajiboye noted that those who want to use the normal registration still has till the end of May
    Ajiboye said teachers who register on or before May 31, would be exempted from the qualifying examinations. The examination, he explained, is designed in modules cosisting category A to D, which comprises holders of PhD, Masters, First Degree as well as NCE.
    Ajiboye however said the induction in higher institutions will continue, while the examination would be infused as part of the requirements of induction.
    “By the end of 2017, Nigerian children will be taught by only qualified professional teachers who can deliver the quality education desirous for the elevation of our children and our country. Professionalism will henceforth be the key for entering into the profession.
    “Those who do not have what it takes cannot be trusted with the lives of our children. We are out to guaranteed a future for our future leaders by ensuring that those who teach them are the best around. This will translate to higher performances and better value for professional teachers.
    “The professional examination takes place by September ending and it is the first of its kind. We have structured it into modules of different categories. This is in line with the 3-year ministerial strategic plan education policy of the Minister of Education Malam Adamu Adamu”

  • Fed Govt to sack teachers not registered with TRCN this year

    Fed Govt to sack teachers not registered with TRCN this year

    THE Federal Government has said it will sack any teacher found in classrooms without the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s (TRCN) certificate and licence before the end of this year.
    Minister of State for Education Prof. Anthony Anwukah said this at the maiden induction ceremony for teachers in Imo State University.
    Anwukah, who was the chairman of the occasion, said in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by Head of Information at TRCN, Ojewuyi Muyiwa, that there would be no going back on the two-year deadline given to teachers to register with the TRCN.
    He urged teachers, who were yet to register with TRCN to do so to avoid being sacked.
    The Registrar/Chief Executive of the council, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, urged teachers not to undermine professionalism.
    He said the TRCN would soon reintroduce the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), which would serve as a major prerequisite for admittance into the teaching profession.
    Ajiboye said: “There is no going back on TRCN professionalism drive across the country; hence the council would soon reintroduce the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), which would serve as a major prerequisite for admittance into the teaching profession in Nigeria.”
    He added that the grace given to teachers to obtain their certificates from the TRCN would soon be over.
    On her part, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Obasi, hailed the efforts of TRCN in repositioning the teaching profession.
    She noted that TRCN had become a formidable force to reckon with in teachers’ education across the country and the world over.

  • TRCN to prosecute fake teachers

    Registrar/Chief Executive of Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Prof Olusegun Ajiboye, has said the Council will arrest and prosecute quacks in the teaching profession.

    He said Federal Government’s setting up of Teachers’ Investigative Panel and Teachers’ Tribunal, has given the Council mandate to move beyond the level of persuasion to enforcement.

    Ajiboye spoke at the graduation of Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PDE) and Induction ceremony for 200 master, bachelor and NCE graduates into the council by Topmost College of Education (TOPCOED), Ipaja, Lagos.

    Ajiboye who was appointed TRCN Registrar two months ago, saidunder his watch, teaching would no longer be an all-comers’ affairs.

    He said: “Teaching is the mother of all professions.  We teach, others learn. That is why we will no longer allow non professionals to take over our jobs; and this administration will also ensure that no longer happens.

    “As teachers who don’t want to be pushed over, you must be ready to learn, unlearn and relearn.

    “You can’t be static because learning is a lifelong process for a teacher especially in the area of technology. The country no longer has room for analog but digital teachers”, he said.

    Director of Academic Planning , Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Otto-Ijanikin, Lagos , Dr Lawal Babatunde  spoke on: “The reluctant teacher versus the teacher to remember: A contextual challenge for improved teachers’ welfare in Nigeria”.

    The guest speaker described the ‘reluctant teacher’ as one with no desire to try anything new, noting that the negative effect of such traits usually rubs off their learners.

    “The teacher to remember is that teacher who is approachable to students and really understands them. He knows how to listen, treat students with respect and makes every student feel like one of their own”, he said.

    He urged government to evolve a policy of wooing the best into the teaching profession through improved welfare package, better financing of teacher development programmes, as well as a sincere implementation of the provisions of the National Teacher Education Policy (NTEP).

    Provost of the College, Dr Mabel Odunayo, said with their training, teachers are to help translate into reality the nation’s educational policy, aims, goals and objectives.

    “They are to ensure that needs of learners are met through appropriate content, methods, attitude and environment. They are expected to help in the development of life skill programmes by serving as significant persons, mentors and life coaches to their learners in spite of their own personal and professional challenges,” she said.