The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has uncovered 250 suspected forged teaching certificates during a state-level recruitment exercise, prompting the council to strengthen its digital verification system and introduce QR-coded professional certificates.
The Registrar and Chief Executive of TRCN, Dr Ronke Soyombo, disclosed the discovery on Thursday while monitoring the ongoing computer-based Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) at Redeemer’s TEAP International School in Abuja.
According to Soyombo, the fraudulent documents were detected during a recruitment exercise in an unnamed state that was seeking to employ approximately 1,000 teachers.
She warned that the circulation of fake professional credentials threatened the quality of education and exposed Nigerian schoolchildren to individuals whose teaching qualifications and professional competence had not been properly established.
TRCN introduces QR-coded certificates to detect fraud
To address the problem, the council has introduced certificates embedded with Quick Response (QR) codes that allow employers to verify teachers’ professional credentials directly through the TRCN portal.
The system is designed to enable schools, government agencies and recruitment authorities to authenticate certificates before offering teaching appointments.
Soyombo said the initiative would make it more difficult for individuals with forged documents to enter the teaching profession and help employers distinguish properly registered teachers from unqualified applicants.
The council is also strengthening examination security through computer-based assessments featuring randomised questions tailored to candidates’ respective academic qualifications.
Under the arrangement, candidates holding doctoral degrees, bachelor’s degrees and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) qualifications receive different question sets, reducing opportunities for examination malpractice.
Government targets full professional certification of teachers
The registrar disclosed that the Federal Government had established ambitious targets for professional teacher licensing across the country.
According to her, the government wants at least 75 per cent of teachers to be licensed by the end of 2026, with all individuals entering Nigerian classrooms expected to possess the required professional certification by December 2027.
She commended the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, for supporting the drive to strengthen professional standards in the teaching sector.
Soyombo emphasised that possessing an excellent academic degree does not automatically make someone a qualified teacher.
She explained that effective teaching also requires demonstrated competence in pedagogy, child safeguarding and digital literacy.
TRCN identifies mathematics weaknesses among teachers
Beyond certificate verification, the council is also working to address gaps in teachers’ professional knowledge.
Soyombo disclosed that previous Professional Qualifying Examinations had revealed significant weaknesses in mathematics among some teachers across the country.
The findings prompted TRCN to develop targeted training interventions in collaboration with relevant education agencies to improve teachers’ subject knowledge and classroom effectiveness.
Teacher registration figures increase
The registrar also reported growth in professional registration following the council’s digital reforms.
According to the figures she provided, registrations increased from 13,000 in May 2025 to 26,000 in November of the same year.
She added that approximately 21,000 candidates were participating in the 2026 Professional Qualifying Examination nationwide, with results expected to be released digitally within one week.
Soyombo urged candidates to maintain examination integrity and avoid fraudulent practices, warning that the council would continue strengthening its systems to protect the teaching profession.
Candidates commend computer-based examination
Some candidates who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria described the computer-based examination as well organised and professionally conducted.
Celestina Adejo said the assessment had strengthened her understanding of child protection and information and communications technology security.
A Nigerian Navy Education Officer, Ebi Mustapha, and Esther Ali, a teacher with 27 years of classroom experience, said they were taking the examination to demonstrate and validate their professional competence.
Both encouraged other practising teachers to obtain the necessary professional certification.
However, another candidate, Benjamin Edet, recommended that examination slips should clearly indicate candidates’ assigned centres and schedules rather than requiring them to depend on WhatsApp groups and external links for such information.
Examination centre strengthens infrastructure
The CBT Coordinator and ICT Administrator at Redeemer’s TEAP International School, Mrs Ann Ogbu, said the examination centre had invested in backup infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted testing.
She disclosed that the facility operated a 60KVA solar power system, a 250KVA standby generator and 20 additional computers to support its existing 220 computer systems.
According to Ogbu, the school had also conducted technical demonstration exercises with TRCN officials to test server connectivity and examination readiness.
The Garki-based institution is expanding its computer capacity to 320 systems and has hosted examinations for TRCN, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Examinations Council (NECO) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The council says its digital reforms are part of a broader effort to eliminate fraudulent credentials, improve teacher competence and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s education system.
