The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has administered the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) to 16,614 teachers across the country.
Dr Stella-Maria Nwokeocha, the Acting Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, who oversaw the exam in Abuja alongside officials from the Federal Ministry of Education, praised the smooth conduct of the examination.
However, Nwokeocha noted that the agency is facing financial difficulties due to its removal from the list of organisations directly funded by the Federal Government.
Dr Nwokeocha’s statement reflects the financial strain that the agency is experiencing, struggling with limited resources and relying heavily on development partners to function. She highlights the challenges of managing operational costs, including the difficulties of funding staff training and meeting employee salaries. This situation emphasises the broader issue of underfunding in essential organisations and the dependence on external support to maintain operations.
She mentioned that despite facing numerous challenges, they have made efforts to reduce costs, with everything ultimately requiring sacrifice. She commended the agency’s staff for their understanding and support. In terms of training, they had to reduce expenses significantly and have instead opted for group training sessions.
She mentioned that they are advocating for increased funding. She emphasised the need for transparency, noting that while some development partners are providing assistance in certain areas, they cannot depend solely on that. They are requesting the government to reintegrate them into its funding plan. Even if the government cannot do so, they are asking it to consider covering staff salaries.
Remarks From The Director of Certification And Licensing
The Director of Certification and Licensing at the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Dr Jacinta Ezeahurukwe, highlighted the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) ‘s importance in certifying and licensing teachers in Nigeria. She emphasised that passing the PQE is mandatory for anyone intending to teach in Nigerian classrooms.
Dr. Ezeahurukwe also shed light on recent technological advancements introduced to improve the examination process. Among these innovations is the development of an application that automatically generates examination numbers for candidates, replacing the previous manual system. She noted that the TRCN is working towards complete online registration and self-generated examination details for all candidates.
She concluded by expressing optimism about the council’s continuous improvement efforts, which have made the examination process smoother and more efficient. According to her, the TRCN’s focus on managing crowds and leveraging technology has already significantly impacted the examination experience.
