TRCN urges partnership with stakeholders to end quackery

Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), is calling on stakeholders in the education sector to partner with the council to enable it eradicate quackery in the teaching profession.

Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Addison Wokocha, made the appeal during the second induction ceremony for 159 education graduates of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State.
Other than the 159 first degree holders, eight holders of doctorate and masters’ degrees were also inducted.

He urged professors in the country’s universities who have not been licensed as professional teachers not to be afraid of
registering with the council as special arrangement has been made for them.

Represented by the Director, Professional Operations TRCN, Alhaji Ibrahim Bonu, Wokocha noted that holding higher qualifications in teaching without being licensed by the council does not make one a professional teacher, since according to him, one must be entrusted with the rudiments of teaching-learning process to guarantee a qualitative education system.

He posited that by carrying out the induction exercise for education graduates, new entrants into the teaching profession are captured, and this creates professional consciousness that would help guide their career life.
“The induction also helps to eliminate certificate forgery plaguing the teaching profession. This implies that teaching just
like any other profession now requires that only those who are adequately prepared to be entrusted with the teaching-learning
process in our schools. That is one of the best ways the nation can guarantee a qualitative education system.

He reminded the licensees of the establishment of the Teachers’ Investigation Panel and Teachers’ Tribunal, noting that each of these mechanisms would carry out their responsibilities accordingly in prosecuting any violation of the professional code. “Many of you are very much aware of the activities of the TIP, which investigates every member alleged to have violated the professional code and if necessary prosecute them in the Teachers Tribunal, where sentences may lead to sanction not excluding, but including withdrawal of registration license as it is done in other climes. Our pride is to emulate this global best practices and enviable standards to protect the profession from quackery and boost the confidence and morale of teachers”, he added.

Earlier, the vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Comfort Ekpo, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof.
Trenchard Ibia, charged the inductees to show a high level of disciple in the course of their duties.

Describing teaching as a noble profession, she reminded them of the need to make themselves harbingers of transformation in the teaching profession.
“To make the teaching profession truly noble, you must change your attitude towards the students and the society; once you do this, you have added value to the profession,” he said.
Highlights of the ceremony included the presentation of teachers’ professional license to the new graduates.