Would-be teachers write certification exam

Thousands of individuals, who are interested in teaching in basic, secondary and tertiary institutions on Saturday, wrote the Teachers Professional Qualifying Examination administered by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).  The council’s registrar, Professor Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, said during the exams in Abuja that henceforth all candidates wishing to earn teaching certification must pass […]

Thousands of individuals, who are interested in teaching in basic, secondary and tertiary institutions on Saturday, wrote the Teachers Professional Qualifying Examination administered by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). 

The council’s registrar, Professor Josiah Olusegun Ajiboye, said during the exams in Abuja that henceforth all candidates wishing to earn teaching certification must pass the qualifying exams which would be conducted in May and October every year. 

He said,  “Before now everyone was registered as a teacher.”

He said the exam was computer-based and candidates were grouped into four with PhD holders in category A, master’s degree, category B, first degree, category C and NCE holders category D.

He said,“Those who will not pass are not ready to become teachers.”

He said Plateau State had 1,600 candidates and was the highest followed by Kano State with about 1,000 candidates. 

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Sunny Echono, said the qualifying exam for teachers was very important because it ensured quality control.

A source said over 10,000 people took the exams nationwide.