The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has identified 250 forged teaching certificates during a recruitment exercise involving about 1,000 prospective teachers in an unnamed state, raising fresh concerns about the screening of applicants seeking employment in Nigerian schools.
The Registrar and Chief Executive of the council, Dr Ronke Soyombo, disclosed this on Thursday, November 12, while monitoring the ongoing computer-based Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) at Redeemer’s TEAP International School in Abuja.
Soyombo said the discovery highlighted the need for employers to authenticate applicants’ professional credentials before completing recruitment processes. She warned that allowing people with fraudulent qualifications into classrooms could undermine teaching standards and the quality of education.
As part of measures to address the problem, the council has introduced certificates embedded with Quick Response (QR) codes. The technology enables employers to access the TRCN portal and check whether a teacher’s certificate is genuine before offering an appointment.
The council is also strengthening its examination procedures to reduce malpractice during the PQE. Soyombo explained that candidates are now given randomised questions based on their academic qualifications, meaning those with doctoral degrees, first degrees and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) qualifications may receive different question sets even when seated in the same examination hall.
The latest measures come as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to ensure that teachers across the country obtain professional certification. According to Soyombo, the government is targeting the licensing of at least 75 per cent of teachers by the end of 2026, with full certification required for everyone entering classrooms by December 2027.
She maintained that academic performance alone was not sufficient qualification for teaching, stressing that prospective educators must also demonstrate practical competence in lesson delivery, child safeguarding and digital literacy. She commended the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, for supporting the drive to make professional certification mandatory.
Soyombo also raised concerns about gaps in teachers’ knowledge of mathematics, which she said had emerged from previous PQE assessments. The council is working with relevant education agencies to develop targeted training programmes to address the identified weaknesses.
She disclosed that about 21,000 candidates were participating in the 2026 qualifying examination nationwide, with results expected to be released electronically within seven days. She urged candidates to maintain examination standards and avoid malpractice.
The TRCN’s latest disclosure places the spotlight on the challenge of ensuring that recruitment into the teaching profession is based not only on academic qualifications but also on authentic professional credentials and the ability to meet the demands of classroom instruction.
