TRCN Raises Alarm Over Shortage of Qualified Teachers in Nigeria

TRCN Raises Alarm Over Shortage of Qualified Teachers in Nigeria

 

 

 

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has expressed serious concern over the high number of unqualified teachers in the country, citing it as a major factor behind the declining standards of education in Nigeria.

 

Dr. Ronke Soyombo, Chief Executive Officer of TRCN, sounded the alarm on Monday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief in commemoration of the 2025 World Teachers’ Day.

 

Speaking on this year’s theme, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” Dr. Soyombo revealed that many teachers currently in classrooms, especially in private schools, lack the requisite professional qualifications. She, however, noted that some aspiring teachers genuinely interested in the profession are unable to enroll due to the absence of formal qualifications.

 

“There are many unqualified teachers in the profession. While some are passionate, they do not have the education degrees required to teach effectively, particularly in public schools. This has continued to affect the quality of learning,” Dr. Soyombo stated.

 

She further highlighted TRCN’s ongoing efforts to tackle the shortage through accelerated programs aimed at attracting more qualified individuals into the teaching profession.

 

“Our current registration stands at about 1.4 million teachers. We aim to expand this to 20 million within the next two years. Digitisation of our registration system is one step towards ensuring more teachers are properly enrolled,” she added.

 

Dr. Soyombo also underscored the importance of collaborative teaching, noting that joint lesson planning among teachers could significantly enhance classroom outcomes. “Every teacher brings unique strengths. When teachers plan lessons together, the students benefit from richer, more effective learning experiences,” she said.

 

The TRCN’s warning comes at a time when educational stakeholders continue to debate strategies to strengthen teacher quality and improve learning outcomes across the country.