No fewer than 3,043 teachers from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory failed the Professional Qualifying Examinations organised by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, The PUNCH has learnt.
Our correspondent observed that the 3,043 teachers were part of the 8,740 teachers who sat for the 2022 diet examinations organised by the TRCN on May 19 and 20, 2022.
The PUNCH reports that the TRCN, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Education, is saddled with the responsibility of regulating teaching practices at all levels of the Nigerian education system, both in the public and private sectors.
As part of its mandate, the council sets professional qualifying examinations for teachers.
The council commenced the examinations in 2017 following the decision of the Ministry of Education to eradicate unqualified teachers from classrooms in the country.
In the data made available to our correspondent in Abuja by the TRCN’s registrar, Prof Josiah Ajiboye, it was noted that a total of 9,486 people registered for the examination, but only 8,740 were examined.
The data also revealed that a total of 3,043 teachers failed the examination, representing 34.82 per cent while 5,697 passed the examination, representing 65.18 per cent.
Further analysis of the data also revealed that Nasarawa, Gombe, Sokoto, Niger, Kebbi, and Plateau states reported over 50 per cent failure among the candidates who were examined.
Nasarawa reported a 63.09 per cent failure; Gombe had 61.68 per cent failure; Sokoto had 59.32 per cent; Niger, 57.39 per cent; Kebbi had 53.57 per cent and Plateau with 52.61 per cent failure.
The data also revealed that Lagos, Cross River, Rivers, Osun, Ogun, Imo, and Kano reported the highest percentage pass.
Lagos reported 84.44 per cent pass; Cross-Rivers 82.31 per cent; Rivers 80.68 per cent; Osun 80.21 per cent; Ogun 79.10 per cent; Imo 78.76 per cent; and Kano 78.73 per cent pass.
Ajiboye said, “Nigeria needs teachers who will meet the nation’s expectations; teachers who will help the nation raise a generation of citizens whose performance will meet international standards; a generation who will be prosperous, vibrant, and peaceful.
“We cannot achieve the expected quality education without competent teachers and school administrators, well equipped with the desirable knowledge, skills, and effective operations of the education system.”
