Over 13,000 teachers across Nigeria have taken part in the May edition of the Teachers’ Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE), a key step toward obtaining or renewing their teaching licences.
The examination, conducted by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), is a mandatory requirement for educators seeking professional certification to teach in the country.
TRCN’s Acting Registrar, Stella Nwokeocha, made the disclosure on Saturday while monitoring the exercise at the Computer-Based Test Centre of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Wuse II, Abuja.
“We have about 594 candidates writing the exam at this centre alone. Across the country, the total number is approximately 13,700,” she said.
Nwokeocha added that the exam ran smoothly nationwide, although adjustments had to be made in some states due to the rescheduling of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
“This exam continues tomorrow because of the JAMB issue. For instance, candidates in Lagos and parts of the South East will write on Sunday, and in Enugu, the exam is scheduled for Wednesday,” she explained.
Speaking at the Abuja centre, Chairman of the TRCN Governing Board, Dr. Saliu Mustapha, commended the orderly conduct and high turnout of participants, describing the PQE as essential for sanitising the teaching profession.
He highlighted efforts by the Ministry of Education, led by Dr. Maruf Alausa, to leverage technology in eliminating unqualified teachers from classrooms.
“We’re working to build an IT-driven system with a comprehensive database of all certified teachers in Nigeria. Eventually, this may be made public, allowing parents and schools to verify the qualifications of teachers online,” Mustapha said.
“This will enhance accountability, especially in private schools. If you want to confirm the credentials of your child’s teacher, you can search the TRCN platform and see if they are licensed.”
A representative of the Minister of Education, Ismaila Adiatu, also expressed satisfaction with the examination’s organisation and execution.
Meanwhile, Dr. Jacinta Ezeahurukwe, TRCN’s Director of Certification and Licensing, said candidates can expect their results within a week.
“Once our teams return from the states by Monday or Tuesday, we’ll begin processing the results. Management will then review and approve them before release,” she stated.
