Teaching as a profession now has all the features of professionalism associated with other noble
professions. Part of these features are coded and standardized instruments or documents called
Professional Standards that clearly and precisely define what the professional must know and
put into practice and the core values, ideals and conduct that the professional must exhibit.
Professional Standards therefore refer to a minimum set of knowledge, skills, values, attitude,
conduct, rights, privileges and obligations expected of a professional.
Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria
The Council was established by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria Act 31 of
1993. Several decades of agitation by professional teachers and other stakeholders for the
establishment of a regulatory agency led to the enactment of the Act.
Roles Teacher Registration Council of Nigeria TRCN
- Determining who are teachers for the purpose of this Act.
- Determining what standards of knowledge and skills are to be attained by persons seeking to become registered as teachers under this Act and raising those standards from time to time as circumstances may permit.
- Securing in accordance with the provisions of this Act the establishment and
- maintenance of a register of teachers and the publication from time to time of the lists of those persons.
- Regulating and controlling the teaching profession in all its aspects and ramifications.
- Classifying from time to time members of the teaching profession according to their level of training and qualification.
- Performing through the Council established under this Act the functions conferred on it by this Act.
Requirements for one to be recognized as a teacher in Nigeria by TRCN
To be legally recognized as a teacher in Nigeria, an individual must register with TRCN.
The TRCN Act 31 of 1993, section 6 (1) states that to be registered, an individual must:
- Pass a qualifying examination accepted by the Council and complete the practical teaching prescribed by the Council under the Act or
- Not being a Nigerian, hold a qualification granted outside Nigeria which for the time being is recognized by the Council and is by law entitled to practise the profession in the country in which the qualification was granted provided that the other country accords Nigerian professional teachers the same reciprocal treatment and that he satisfies the Council that he has had sufficient practical experience as a teacher.
- Be of good character
- Have attained the age of twenty-one years
- Not have been convicted in Nigeria or elsewhere of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty.
- Induction at point of graduation
- Payment of registration fees and annual dues
- Professional Qualifying Examinations
- Internship after graduation from teacher education institution
- Continuing Professional Development
- Any other requirements that may be made by TRCN from time to time.
Categorization of teachers in Nigeria
Registered teachers in Nigeria are categorized into four groups as follows:
Category A (Doctoral Teachers):
Holders of PhD in Education or
PhD in other field plus teaching qualification e.g. Post Graduate Diploma in
Education (PGDE); Professional Diploma in Education (PDE); Nigeria Certificate in
Education (NCE).
Category B (Master Teachers):
Holders of Masters Degree in Education or Masters Degree in other fields plus a
teaching qualification, e.g. PGDE, PDE, NCE.
Category C (Graduate Teachers):
Holders of Bachelors Degree in Education or Bachelors Degree in other field plus a
teaching qualification, e.g. PGDE, PDE, NCE.
Category D (NCE Teachers):
Holders of the Nigeria Certificate in Education which is the national minimum
teaching qualification.