Teaching Under Reform As FG Pushes for Professionalism in Nigerian Classrooms

Dr. Ronke Soyombo, TRCN Registrar, with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa

After years of little or no movement, Nigeria’s teaching profession is undergoing decisive reforms aimed at repositioning it to deliver excellence and meet global standards.
In this regard, the Federal Government and the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) are intensifying efforts to remove unqualified teachers from classrooms and restore the profession’s dignity.

This renewed drive was evident during the 2025 Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), which officials described as smooth, well attended, and critical to raising teaching standards nationwide.

At the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) CBT centre in Abuja, the Chairman of the TRCN Governing Board, Dr Saliu Mustapha, stressed that PQE remains a non-negotiable tool for sanitising the system. “Only qualified teachers must be allowed to stand before our children,” he stated, adding that the Federal Ministry of Education is developing a digital platform that will allow parents to verify the certification status of their children’s teachers. According to him, the initiative forms part of broader reforms being championed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.

Nationwide, over 13,700 candidates sat for the PQE, with 594 in Abuja alone. Acting Registrar of TRCN, Stella Nwokeocha, noted that although some states had to adjust their timetables due to clashes with the rescheduled UTME, the examination maintained a high turnout — a development experts see as an encouraging sign for teaching quality.

However, the PQE is only one part of a bigger transformation. During the inauguration of the 5th TRCN Governing Council, Dr Alausa directed the Council to “eliminate unqualified teachers” from classrooms and revoke licenses of practitioners who undermine professional ethics. “We are igniting a revolution,” he declared, arguing that every Nigerian child deserves a certified professional, with no exceptions.

The minister urged the Council to adopt digital tools for certification and continuous professional development, while preparing teachers for emerging trends such as artificial intelligence and hybrid learning. Dr Alausa also insisted that, for the reforms to work, there must be closer collaboration among state governments, unions, and global bodies such as UNESCO. He added that such a partnership will help to raise Nigeria’s standards to international levels.

TRCN leaders, including Council Chairman Mustapha Saliu and Registrar Dr Ronke Soyombo, emphasised that teachers must be empowered, respected, and adequately equipped. However, they also called for the restoration of funding to enable the Council to fulfil its mandate effectively.

Stakeholders like education policy advocate Nathaniel Jonathan Bajani believe the reforms signal a new era: “We want a nation where teachers are trained, ethical, and globally recognised.

The message is clear: for Nigeria’s education system to rise, its teachers must rise first.