The Federal Government has unveiled a Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) digital portal, designed to simplify teacher registration, certification, and professional development while raising the standard of education in the country.
The initiative was launched on Monday in Abuja alongside the Strategic Vision for Nigerian Teachers. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the move was aimed at repositioning education through professionalism, accountability, and technology.
According to him, the TRCN portal will serve as a one-stop platform for teacher registration, licensing, renewal, and professional development tracking. It will also function as a national database for teachers’ performance and career progression.
> “This is not just about technology. It is about reaffirming our collective commitment to teachers, their dignity, their growth, and their future. No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers,” Alausa stated.
The minister further announced the rollout of a Teacher Ethics and Criminal Record Verification Framework, which makes ethics screening and background checks compulsory for all teachers—whether in public or private schools. He explained that the measure would ensure only qualified and morally upright individuals are allowed in classrooms.
“This is not punitive; it is protective. It safeguards our children and upholds the moral integrity of the teaching profession,” he added.
TRCN’s 100-day action plan
Registrar of TRCN, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, noted that the initiative is part of her 100-day action plan to digitize the council’s operations. She explained that the portal would end long-standing delays in processing teachers’ licences and certificates.
“Teachers across Nigeria can now register, access results, and print certificates conveniently from their homes. A service level agreement has also been introduced to ensure PQE results are released within one week, after which successful candidates can download their certificates immediately,” Soyombo said.
She also revealed that the TRCN had streamlined the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) curriculum from 23 subjects to five core areas: foundational mathematics, literacy, digital literacy, safeguarding, and pedagogy. By October, the council plans to launch an AI-powered lesson plan generator to help teachers deliver more engaging and contextualised lessons.
Soyombo added that the reforms would increase the number of certified teachers by 50 percent, improve child protection, and align Nigeria’s teaching standards with global benchmarks.
Stakeholders’ support
The initiative has received wide backing from local and international partners.
Chikodi Onyemerela, Director of Programmes at the British Council, described the portal as “a significant milestone in transforming Nigeria’s education system.”
Ian Attfield, Senior Education Adviser at the British High Commission, said the new system would improve data management and boost teacher motivation.
Mohammed Isa, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, urged that the platform must be inclusive for persons with disabilities, with features such as screen readers, sign language support, and digital braille.
Meanwhile, Dr. Patrick Adeleye, CEO of TeckPlus Digital Solutions—the firm behind the portal—explained that the project was 20 months in the making. He said it would eliminate bottlenecks, improve data accuracy on teachers nationwide, and strengthen the Education Management Information System (EMIS) agenda.
“Before now, Nigeria lacked reliable data on the number of qualified and certified teachers, which affected learning outcomes. This portal changes that,” Adeleye stated.
With the new platform, the Federal Government hopes to build a more transparent, efficient, and globally competitive teaching profession, placing teachers at the heart of national development.
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