The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has categorically denied the allegations put forth by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) regarding the council’s purported request for teachers to rewrite their professional qualifying examinations.
Dismissing these claims outlined in a letter from NANS Senate President Akinteye Babatunde, Prof Josiah Ajiboye, the Registrar of TRCN, clarified that TRCN certificates are obtained only once in a lifetime. Once acquired, the certificate remains valid indefinitely, with the requirement for renewal applying solely to the TRCN license, akin to similar practices in other professions.
Babatunde’s letter, mistakenly attributing a certificate renewal policy to TRCN, expressed concerns about the potential detrimental impact on Nigerian teachers who might be further burdened by financial constraints and the potential shortage of teachers resulting from non-renewal.
This policy was described as draconian and lacking consideration for the average Nigerian student’s circumstances and the current state of the nation’s economy.
Addressing these concerns, the TRCN Registrar emphasized that the reasons for delayed certificate collection from TRCN might vary and urged the council to promptly release all withheld certificates while abolishing the alleged insensitive policy.
He cautioned that such a policy not only wastes time but also exacerbates the already prevalent issues of unemployment and poverty in the country.
Moreover, Babatunde highlighted the potential repercussions on the quality of education in Nigeria if teachers are compelled to abandon the profession due to the untimely expiry of their certificates.
The scarcity of qualified educators would undoubtedly undermine the education system’s standards, exacerbating an already existing crisis. Consequently, he called for the removal of this policy, taking into consideration the fragile economic climate of Nigeria.
In response to these concerns, Ajiboye clarified that TRCN’s new policy primarily pertains to the validity of TRCN Professional Qualifying Examination results and does not involve the mandatory renewal of certificates.
