The President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Audu Amba, has urged teachers nationwide to fully comply with the registration requirements of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, warning that those who fail to do so may face disciplinary action.
The TRCN had stated that to qualify as a professional teacher, an individual must possess at least a Certificate in Education, a Bachelor of Education, a Master of Education, or a Postgraduate Diploma in Education for those who are already teaching but did not study education as their first degree.
Speaking on Friday, Amba described the TRCN as a product of the union’s long-standing advocacy for professional standards in the teaching sector.
According to him, the council was established to regulate the teaching profession and ensure that only qualified and licensed individuals are permitted to teach in classrooms.
Amba expressed concern over the growing trend of individuals without teaching qualifications entering classrooms, often due to unemployment in other sectors.
“It is only in the teaching profession that you find people without the required qualifications in the classroom.
“This is because of limited job opportunities elsewhere. People often say, ‘Why don’t you consider teaching?’ That mindset must change,” he said.
He emphasised that teaching should be strictly reserved for trained and licensed professionals.
“Teaching is meant for professionals who have acquired the necessary qualifications and are duly licensed to teach in the classroom,” he added.
The NUT president noted that teachers are expected to register with TRCN, obtain certification, and secure a valid licence as proof of their eligibility to practise.
