TRCN discovers 250 fake teaching certificates

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, TRCN, has uncovered 250 forged teaching certificates in the course of a recruitment exercise involving about 1,000 prospective teachers in an unnamed state.

The council’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr Ronke Soyombo, disclosed this on Thursday during an inspection of the ongoing computer-based Professional Qualifying Examination, PQE, at Redeemer’s TEAP International School, Abuja.

She said the discovery had reinforced the need for stronger measures to authenticate teachers’ qualifications and prevent individuals with fraudulent credentials from gaining employment in schools.

In response, Soyombo said the council had begun issuing certificates with Quick Response, QR, codes, allowing employers to confirm the authenticity of credentials through the TRCN online portal.

She described the use of fake certificates as a threat to educational standards, insisting that recruitment into the teaching profession must be based on verifiable qualifications and professional competence.

The registrar also said the council had introduced a new examination system featuring randomised questions suited to candidates’ different academic qualifications to minimise opportunities for examination malpractice.

Under the Federal Government’s certification drive, she explained, the target is to have 75 per cent of Nigerian teachers licensed by December 2026, while all teachers are expected to obtain certification before being allowed into classrooms by December 2027.

Soyombo stressed that prospective teachers must also demonstrate the ability to deliver lessons effectively, protect children and apply digital skills in the classroom.

The registrar further disclosed that assessments conducted by the council had revealed considerable gaps in teachers’ mathematics knowledge, leading to plans for specialised capacity-building programmes in partnership with relevant education agencies.

On the council’s registration drive, Soyombo said the number of registered teachers rose from 13,000 in May 2025 to 26,000 in November of the same year.

She added that 21,000 candidates were taking the 2026 PQE across the country, noting that their results would be made available electronically within seven days.

She called on candidates to uphold examination standards and avoid fraudulent practices, saying the council would continue deploying digital tools to identify unqualified practitioners and improve the quality of teaching in Nigeria.