2. In which Ministry is TRCN?
Answer: - TRCN is an agency of the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria.

3. What does TRCN do?
Answer: - TRCN has the following mandates:

•  Registration and Licensing of qualified teachers.

•  Accreditation, monitoring and supervision of the courses and programmes of Teacher Training Institutions in Nigeria to ensure that they meet national and international minimum standards. The institutions include the Colleges of Education, Faculties and Institutes of Education in Nigerian Universities, Schools of Education in the Polytechnics, and the National Teachers Institute.

•  Organization of internship schemes for fresh education graduates to equip them with the necessary professional skills before licensing them for full professional practice.

•  Conduct of professional examinations and interviews to determine teachers suitable for registration. This clearly shows that the existing practice of registering teachers upon presentation of certificates alone is a grace that will expire soonest. All those unable to take advantage of the grace must have to write and pass challenging examinations before they can be registered.

•  Execution of Mandatory Continuing Professional Education (MCPE) to guarantee that teachers keep abreast of developments in the theory and practice of the profession.

•  Organization of the Annual Conference of Registered Teachers which is the first of its kind in Nigeria and will unite all teachers irrespective of social class or the level of education system to which they belong.

•  Publication of a register of qualified and licensed teachers in Nigeria which will be a public document displayed and obtainable from the Local Governments, States and the Federal offices. The register will also be on the World Wide Web (WWW) for the consumption of the international community.

•  Enforcement of ethical conduct among teachers and actually prosecuting erring ones using the Teachers Tribunal which has powers under law to met out punishments.

•  Prosecuting in the law court, all unqualified persons performing the job of teachers in contravention of the TRCN Act.

•  Acting as the voice of the voiceless teachers and continuously initiating/actualizing public policies and practices that will reposition the teaching profession as first among equals.

4. Who can register with the TRCN?
Answer: - Only qualified teachers with the following qualifications, TC II, NCE, B.ED, MED, Ph.D + Education e.g. PGDE.

5. How much does it cost to register?
Answer: - Registration is based on your qualification as follows:

6. Can one register in his/her state?
Answer: - TRCN has offices in all the 36 states of the Federation including FCT. A candidate is free to register in any of the offices, including our national headquarters at Abuja . Other registration points are Ministries and agencies of Education at the State and Federal levels, Faculties and Institutes of Education, Colleges of Education, etc which have TRCN Desk Officers.

7. What do I still need a certificate for when I have taught for several years?
Answer :- Certification is a major yardstick used to draw a line between the professionally trained personnel and those not trained. Certification legally confers on a practitioner all the rights, privileges and obligations expected of a professional as contained in the enabling laws and conventions.

8. How will this be enforced in the private schools ?
Answer: - The Law has empowered the Council to professionalise teaching at all levels of the Education system, in the public and private sectors. Therefore, the proprietors of private schools are advised to ensure that only professionally qualified and registered teachers are engaged.

9. What is the penalty for teaching without registration?
Answer: - The TRCN Act 31 of 1993 section 17(2) makes it clear that with the commencement of the Act, any individual teaching, using the identity of a teacher or earning the reward of a teacher without being registered is liable on conviction to a fine of N5000 or two-year jail term or both. The Act further stipulates that the employer of such unregistered teacher will face the same penalty.

10. Will the certificate add any thing to my salary?
Answer: - By getting rid of quacks in the profession, the economic value of registered teachers will rise significantly. Again, the National Council on Education has recommended a special Teachers Salary Structure (TSS) to the Federal Executive Council. When approved, TSS will be earned by only registered teachers in the country.

11. Why do you have different numbering on your certificates?
Answer: - The certificate with two alphabets and twelve digits were randomly generated from the computer system with the intention of giving specialty and security to the certificates. However, along the line, the computerization system was changed. Now a registration number is coded to show the candidate's state of employment, the level he teaches/works, and other personal identities.

12. What happens to qualified retired teachers who still need the certificates?
Answer: - They are also allowed to register for professional identity and pride.

13. What happens if I change from one level to the other will my certificate be changed e.g primary to secondary?
Answer: - The certificate will not be changed but while renewing your license the current category will be indicated.

14. As seen on your certificates explain the meaning of P/S/T/R?
Answer: - These are the various levels that have been added to your certificates for special purposes e.g. to identify the level you were teaching/working at the time the certificate is issued.

P – Stands for primary. All teachers at this level have this code.

S – Secondary teacher

T- Tertiary teachers/lecturers in the higher institutions.

R – The rest, i.e. Teachers in administration, business, retired, etc.

15. I registered since 2002 and my certificate is not ready, will TRCN add a grace period to 2006 deadline?
Answer: - Before the end of 2006 all registered teachers would have gotten their certificates. TRCN will not add any grace period as far as the organization is concerned, 2006 is already the grace period.

16. I am a qualified graduate with B.ED and I am not working, do I still need to register and acquire any certificate?
Answer: - Yes, you need the certificate most because a major criteria for employment in teaching now is the possession of a certificate of registration from the Council.

17. Now that I have a provisional certificate will my certificate be changed when I obtain a new qualification?
Answer: - Yes on presentation of the higher certificate acquired your provisional certificate will definitely be changed to the qualified type. In a situation where you had NCE and now have acquired a masters degree the certificate would not be changed but your category in the license would reflect your present qualification.

18. 2006 is here, when will TRCN control and sanitize the teaching profession as regards private schools that go for cheap labour to maximize profit at the expense of pupils?
Answer: - TRCN has long started this drive to ensure that private schools conform to TRCN regulation. The drive will be sustained and intensified in the months ahead.

19. What is the purpose of registration?
Answer: - Registration is for the purpose of professionalisation to facilitate the upliftment of teachers' status and dignity as professionals.

20.  What is the procedure for registration?
Answer: - The procedure is that you pay your money according to your level, to the bank. You use the bank teller to obtain TRCN form, from desk officers of our stakeholders or state coordinators. Return the filled forms to the point of purchase which will be processed accordingly for certification.

21. What is the qualification for registration?
Answer: - To be registered as professional teacher, a person must possess a teaching qualification not lower in standards than the NIGERIA CERTIFICATE IN EDUCATION (NCE). This is the minimum standard stipulated by the National Policy on Education. However, holders of Teachers Grade Two are currently being registered only provisionally. This grace is given in consideration of the thousands of teachers in this category already in the education system, just to give the serious ones the opportunity to upgrade and thereby minimize casualties when TRCN shall introduce sever sanctions.

The other acceptable qualifications are Degree in Education ( B.Sc Ed; B.A Ed; B.Ed; M.Ed; PhD ). Those with Degrees/Diplomas in non-Education fields must possess Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE ), Professional Diploma in Education ( PDE ) or Technical Teachers Certificate ( TTC ).

•  Foreign teaching qualifications can be accepted; if proved to meet the standards of the Nigeria Certificate in Education.

22.  What are the benefits of registration?
Answer: - The TRCN Act is the greatest gift bequeathed to the Nigerian teachers by Government. This is for the fact that to all wise and noble vocations the rule is, “seek first professionalism and every other desirables will be added unto you.” Professionalism is the most primary and fundamental need of any vocation that wishes to deliver qualitative services to society and have its members well respected and remunerated. It ensures that:

•  Only those that are appropriately trained and inducted perform the job,

•  The rules of the game exist and are obeyed by all,

•  Clients get value for their money and efforts,

•  Public interest is protected,

•  Priority is given to nation-building, and

•  Professional growth

•  Job security

•  Teacher Salary Structure (TSS), when approved by the Federal Government

•  Ethical rejuvenation in the Profession

•  Higher status of teachers in Nigeria

•  Fulfillment of legal professional requirements

•  Halt in brain drain in the teaching profession

•  Rise in Educational standard

•  International recognition

•  Higher status and identity

•  Tougher standards of entry into the Profession

•  Promotion of Continuous Professional Development of teachers.

•  Provision of authentic data of teachers in Nigeria .

The professions of Law, Medicine, Engineering, Pharmacy, Accountancy, etc realized these secrets early enough and fully exploited them. That is why most people today would like to belong to these professions. The teacher should learn from the wisdom of these other professions that the Government has now given the teaching profession the greatest empowerment ever to match the performance and social worth of their counterparts in the other professions. They should be proud that at the end, Government has recognized and put into law the fact that only the trained individual can teach. It is a thing of joy and pride to any real teacher. It should also be a thing of joy to parents in this country who have been groaning under the weight of poor quality education, examination malpractices, cultism, and sundry vices most of which are the impact of the invasion of the education system by persons neither trained nor genuinely interested in teaching as a career.

23.  What rank will I get after registering?
Answer: - Registering with TRCN will not give you rank but recognition as a professional.

24.  Will they increase our salaries?
Answer: - Your salaries will not be increase immediately but the TRCN is working relentlessly to see to the actualization of the Teachers Salary Scale (TSS) implementation

25.  Can we get teaching job for registering?
Answer: - As a policy of the government, you stand the best chance to get employed for teaching when you attend interview since the non-qualified will eventually be stopped from practicing. TRCN cannot give job, but create job opportunity when getting rid of quacks in the system.

26.  When will the registration close?
Answer: - Registration is a continuous process for those qualifying and those coming out of training. However 2006 is the deadline given to all practicing teachers to be registered and those not qualified to enroll for qualifying programmes like: PGDE , NCE , PDE .

27. What will happen to those who are teaching already without the teaching qualification?
Answer: - 2006 has been given to them by TRCN to get enrolled into programmes for teaching qualification, like PGDE, NCE and PDE. Those who make no move to qualify risk tough sanctions.

28. What is professionalization of Teaching all about?
Answer: - Professionalisation is a process, procedures or measures employed to turn teaching into a respectable vocation or profession.

29. How would professionalization improve the standard and quality of Education?
Answer: - Only professionally trained teachers will teach and manage the Nigerian schools. Compliance with professional discipline, tenets, attitudes and behaviour.

30. Who is a professional teacher?
Answer: - Trained on the job of teaching

•  Passed all prescribed courses in Education including teaching subjects.

•  Participated on supervised teaching practice.

•  Is certificated at last with minimum qualification of National Certificate in Education

31. How would a professional teacher be distinguished from the non-professional?
Answer: - All professionally qualified and registered teachers will have certificates of registration and practicing licenses to show.

32 . In what ways will the professionalization of teaching promote the image of the teacher?
Answer: - The practices of all conventional professions will be observed and upheld by teachers.

- Teachers will be remunerated appropriately.

- Teachers will be encouraged to building up their capacity on continual basis.

33 . Why are teachers not addressed with titles like other professionals ?
Answer: - An appropriate title for teachers will be discussed and adopted in the near future when teachers come together in one forum.

34. What are the objectives of the Teachers Mandatory Continuing Professional Education programmes ?
Answer: - Provide a forum for cross-fertilization of ideas and experiences

•  Offer intellectual, social and emotional engagement with ideas, materials and colleagues.

•  Maintain competence and relevance of the education/teachers in economic, technological, political and social environment.

•  Keep teachers abreast with the latest innovation in the teaching profession.

•  Maintain professional excellence at all times.

•  Serve as an on going process of change in order assist teachers adopt, contribute and participate actively in the implementation of challenges ahead.

•  Enhance teachers' commitment to the teaching profession.

35. How does TRCN ensure quality of teacher education?
Answer:- TRCN does this through the accreditation, monitoring and supervision of all courses and programmes of teacher education institutions in Nigeria. They include the Faculties and Institutes of Education in Nigerian universities, Colleges of Education, etc.

36. How committed is the Council to professional development of teachers?
Answer: - The Council collaborates with a myriad of stakeholders in Education to attract free training programmes for teachers. It has notably organized joint capacity building workshops and seminars for teachers with the World Bank, UNESCO, and other international and national agencies. Also, every year it tours the entire country with experts from various fields training teachers in critical areas needing urgent improvement. In the 2006, the Council will train teachers nationwide in Information and Communication Teachnology (ICT).

37. How does TRCN ensure quality of teacher education?
Answer: - TRCN does this through the accreditation, monitoring and supervision of all courses and programmes of teacher education institutions in Nigeria. They include the Faculties and Institutes of Education in Nigerian universities, Colleges of Education, etc.

38. Will there not be conflict in the role of TRCN and other agencies like the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Commission for Colleges of Education ( NCCE), etc?

Answer: - There will be no conflict as TRCN and these other agencies are of the same Federal Ministry of Education, pursuing complementary objectives. TRCN plays exactly the same roles as the agencies regulating Law, Medicine, etc and these other agencies have collaborated effectively with NUC, etc to avoid conflict. Therefore, TRCN will do just the same.

39. What is the relationship between the Federal Government and TRCN?
Answer: - TRCN is a agency established under the Federal Ministry of Education through Act No. 31 of 1993 to cater for the professionalisation of teachers.

40. What is the relationship between TRCN and ICTON?
Answer: - TRCN has no relationship with ICTON (Institute of Certified Teachers of Nigeria). The Federal Government has since declared ICTON to be an illegal registration body and its activities have winded down years back.

41. Why is the categorization of teachers by TRCN based on qualification and not on salary grade level?
Answer: - To encourage teachers to aspire for higher qualifications. Teaching must be founded on very high intellectual base as the mother of all other noble professions.

42. Will TRCN carry along other bodies in its activities?
Answer: - Certainly yes, TRCN cannot be successful without the involvement of the stakeholders that deal with teachers at various levels. They include the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Science Teachers Association of Nigeria, employers of teachers at all levels, Local, State, Federal and international agencies working in Education.

43. Will TRCN allow stakeholders to continue recruiting untrained and unqualified teachers:
Answer: - No. The National Council on Education has in 2003 endorsed the TRCN policy which recommended a ban on the recruitment of unqualified teachers. The ban has already come into effect. Employers that violate it will surely face sanctions soonest.

44. What will TRCN do with university lecturers and other tertiary institution lecturers who may not want to register?
Answer: Dialogue is an important approach in order to make them realize what they and the nation stand to gain if they become professional teachers. TRCN is also working together with the Faculties and Institutes of Education to fashion out flexible programmes for the lecturers which will suit their tight schedules. Again, the agencies supervising the tertiary institutions (NUC, NCCE, NBTE, etc.), are members of TRCN Governing Board. Therefore directives will very easily flow from TRCN down to the teachers of tertiary institutions as and when it becomes necessary.

45. Will TRCN start arresting and prosecuting unqualified teachers soon?
Answer: - Yes. It is a matter of time. By then the number of unqualified teachers must have been drastically reduced and those to be caught will only have themselves to blame. TRCN have same powers as other professional regulatory agencies to prosecute quacks and will not shy away from that job at the long run.

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