CHAPTER THREE

3.1 MANDATORY REGISTRATION PRIOR TO PRACTICE

As obtains in the other noble professions, the law makes it an offence for any one to engage in teaching without registration. This is clearly spelt out in section 17(2) of the TRCN Act which states that

If on or after the commencement of the Act, any person not being a

registered member of the profession practices as a registered member of the profession or in expectation of reward, or takes or uses any name, title, addition or description implying that he is in practice as a registered member of the profession, he shall be guilty of an offence.

The Act further states that employers and other officials who aid and abet the employment of unqualified/unregistered teachers are themselves guilty of the same offence and shall receive same punishment. This is made clear in section 17(6) of the Act as follows:

Where an offence under this section which has been committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate or any person purporting to act in such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

The Act stipulates that the punishment shall be a fine of N5,000 (five thousand Naira) of two year jail term or both.

This provision empowers TRCN to arrest offenders and drag them to the court of law for prosecution and punishment. Since the Act came into force in 1993, all unqualified teachers currently in the education system are doing so in violation of the law. However, TRCN has provided a reprieve and period of grace to allow adequate sensitization of teachers and the general public to take place first before imposing sanctions. It is not interested in jailing and punishing any one but that the people should whole-heartedly come to appreciate that laws are made to be obeyed. It wants the people to realize that the country desperately needs a qualitative teaching if it must restore fallen standards of education and reinvigorate nation building. It wants the public to remember that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander: Not only the Medical, Legal, Engineering, Pharmacists, etc Councils but also the general public would detest and deal with any person found doing the job of a medical doctor, lawyer, engineer, or pharmacist, without being qualified and registered. The public should extend the same respect, goodwill, and sanity to the teaching profession. Most especially because education affects the life of every human being.

Meanwhile, the National Council on Education at its 50 th session at Yenegoa, Bayelsa State in 2003 has fixed the year 2006 as deadline to unqualified teachers already in the education system. Those with Teachers Grade Two are to upgrade to the NCE while graduates without teaching qualifications are to get the PGDE, PDE or TTC before the expiration of the deadline. The Council also directed a halt to the recruitment of unqualified teachers henceforth. The National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education and the National Commission for Colleges of Education on their part, since 2004, dispatched appropriate directives to the Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts, respectively, making it clear that their teachers irrespective of Faculties/Schools/Colleges are affected by the TRCN Act and should comply with the necessary professionalisation guidelines emanating from TRCN. It is therefore expected that teachers at all levels of the education system, both within the public and private sectors, will take advantage of these vital information and periods of grace to count themselves on the side of the teaching profession rather than on the side of disobedience to law and constituted authority.

3.2 QUALIFICATION FOR REGISTRATION

To be registered as a 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. Holders of Teachers Grade Two are however being currently registered under the period of grace granted by TRCN. The certificate will be deregistered by January 1st 2007. This grace is given in consideration of the thousands of teachers in this category already in the education system, just to give the ones serious to be in the teaching profession the opportunity to upgrade and thereby minimize casualties when TRCN shall introduce sever sanctions.

The other acceptable qualifications are Degrees in Education (B.Sc 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).

For the avoidance of doubt, ordinary diplomas in Education, Pivotal Teachers Certificates, and similar qualifications not mentioned above are NOT registrable. Teacher training institutions who offer such qualifications and want it to be recognized must apply formally to TRCN for the programme to be subjected to minimum national standards and thereafter made registrable.

The TRCN Act in section 6(1)-(3) gives other conditions for registration of an individual as a teacher. The individual must:

•  Pass a qualifying examination accepted by Council and complete the

practical teaching prescribed by the Council under this Act.

(ii) 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 practice 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 satisfy the Council that he had sufficient practical experience as a teacher.

(iii) Be of good character.

(iv) Attain the age of twenty one years.

(v) Not have been convicted in Nigeria or elsewhere of an offence involving fraud or dishonesty.

Individuals who meet these criteria are qualified/expected to register whether they are functioning as classroom teachers, researchers, administrators in educational institutions, ministries and agencies, unemployed, business men/women, or engaged in any other public or private sector careers. Such registration will confer on them the professional identity, dignity and accomplishment of being a teacher. This is henceforth compulsory for those who wish to remain in the education system (teachers and administrators alike) while for those that read Education but now in other careers, it is still something to be proud of, to identify with the field to which they rightly belong. The policy is being put in place that only professional teachers can be appointed to headship or leadership positions in educational institutions. The Commission for Colleges of Education has taken the lead to enforce this policy in the appointment of Provosts of Colleges of Education. The policy will therefore pervade the entire education system very soon. The country cannot continue to allow the non-professional individuals to guide and direct the qualified and licensed professionals. Consequently, administrators in the system are to take registration as seriously as do the classroom teachers. Qualified teachers currently unemployed or in other sectors also ought to note that certificate of professional registration will be required right at employment interviews, if at any time, they decide to rejoin the education system.

3.3 MODE OF REGISTRATION

It is the responsibility of individual qualified teacher to register himself or herself. However, for administrative convenience, TRCN encourages employers and associations of teachers to work out a collective registration approach. For instance, in most states of the Federation, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in collaboration with the Ministries of Education, State Primary Education Boards, Secondary Education Management Boards, Teaching Service Commissions and other stakeholders agreed to deduct the registration fees of their teachers at source (that is, to check off the fees from teachers' salaries) and pay same to TRCN. In turn, TRCN sent forms en bloc to cover the teachers involved. This was done from the initial stage to enable massive registration. Most Colleges of Education, Faculties/Institutes of Education in Nigerian Universities, and proprietors of private schools followed the same approach. In some other states, the NUT, zonal Education authorities, principals of secondary schools and heads of primary schools adopted a similar strategy. In essence, it is up to the teachers and their employers to determine the fastest means to employ. But the non-existence or failure of such arrangement can not be an excuse for any qualified teacher who TRCN may in future arrest and prosecute for teaching without registration. Teachers should therefore see professional registration as a personal obligation that is not transferable.

Applicants are to pay appropriate fees at any of the following designated Banks:

i. United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc

ii. Omega Bank Plc

iii. Bank of the North Plc

iv. First Bank of Nigeria Plc

v. Zenith International Bank Plc

vi. Wema Bank Plc

vii. Hallmark Bank Plc

viii. AfriBank of Nigeria Plc

ix. Any other bank that may be approved by the Council from time to time.

The bank tellers should then be presented at any of the Registration Centres listed below, where forms will be issued and returned after completion:

•  Office of Honourable Commissioner, State Ministries of Education and FCT Education Secretariat.

•  Office of Executive Chairman State Primary Education Boards

•  Office of Chairman State Teaching Service Commissions or Boards/ Executive Secretary State Secondary Education Management Boards.

(iv) Office of Deans/ Directors of Faculties/Institutes of Education of Nigerian Universities.

•  Office of the Provost Colleges of Education.

•  Office of Rector Polytechnics and Monotechnics.

•  Association of Proprietors of Private Primary and Secondary Schools.

•  TRCN State and Zonal Offices

•  TRCN Headquarters

•  Other places that may be designated by TRCN from time to time.

  3.4 REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS

In addition to filling the registration forms, the following documents must be attached to the completed forms for submission:

•  3 current passport photographs (with names and address at the back).

•  Photocopies of all relevant certificates of qualification.

•  Photocopy of birth certificate or a statutory declaration of age.

•  Photocopy of evidence of change of name (where applicable).

•  Original bank teller indicating fees paid.

Acknowledgement cards will be issued to candidates who submit their completed forms as stated above. Thereafter, duly registered teachers will be issued with the following documents:

•  Certificate of registration

•  Licence to practice

•  Teachers Code of Conduct

  3.5 TEACHER CATEGORIES AND CURRENT REGISTRATION FEES

3.6 EXPIRATION OF REGISTRATION

A teacher's registration expires in the following circumstances:-

(i) If provisional registration is not confirmed after three years.

(ii) By requesting the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria in writing to remove his/her name from the register.

(iii) On the death of the registered member.

Once registration has expired, a teacher who wishes to become registered again may do so. However, re-instatement may be at Council's discretion.

3.7 CANCELLATION OF REGISTRATION

There are circumstances in which the Council may initiate action to cancel the registration of a teacher. These include where:-

(i) registration has been granted in error as a result of misinformation or fraud by the applicant;

(ii) a teacher is convicted of gross professional misconduct by the Teachers Tribunal; and

(iii) a teacher has been convicted in a court of law for a criminal offence.

All teachers with cancelled registrations will have their names published and circulated to their employers.

3.8 EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL OF LICENCE

A practicing license is valid for only a period of one year from the date of issue. To get the licence renewed, a teacher is required to:

(i) Earn at least 50% of the credit units specified for the three years for Mandatory Continuing Professional Education. This involves attendance of Annual Conference of Registered Teachers, trainings, and workshops. The Council will organize some of the trainings and workshops while the ones conducted by other reputable bodies will also be recognized for the calculation of the MCPE credits. The Council has published a Manual on MCPE which registered teachers are encouraged to obtain for their proper guidance regarding.

(ii) Pay annual subscription (fees) for the three years.

(iii) Meet other requirements that the Council may prescribe from time to time.

3.9 INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA OFFERING APPROVED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IN EDUCATION

The institutions currently are:

•  National Teachers Institute (NTI).

•  Colleges and Universities of Education.

•  Institutes of Education in the Universities.

•  Faculties of Education in the Universities.

•  Schools or Departments of Education in the Polytechnics.

•  Any other institution that may be approved by government from time to time.

•  Foreign countries with recognised educational training.

The TRCN Act in sections 7 and 8, assigned the Council very serious responsibilities to ensure that the Education graduates of these institutions are of very high quality. Consequently, section 7 states as follows:

(1) The Council may approve an institution for the purposes of this Act, and may for those purposes –

•  any course of training at any approved institution which is intended for persons who are seeking to become or are already teachers and which the Council considers designed to confer on persons completing it sufficient knowledge and skills for admission as professional teachers;

•  any qualification which, as a result of an examination taken in conjunction with a course of training approved by the Council under this section , is granted to candidates reaching a standard at the examination indicating in the opinion of the members of the Council that the candidates have sufficient knowledge and skill to practice the profession.

(2) The Council may, if it thinks fit, withdraw any approval given under this section in respect of any course, qualification, or institution.

The Act in section 8 further directs that:

•  It shall be the duty of members of the Council to keep themselves informed of the nature of –

•  The instruction given at approved institutions to persons attending approved courses of training; and

•  The examination as a result of which approved qualifications are granted; and for the purpose of performing that duty, the Council may appoint, either from among its own members or otherwise, persons to visit approved institutions , or to observe such examinations.

•  It shall be the duty of a person appointed under subsection (1) of this section to report to the Council on –

•  The sufficiency of the instructions given to persons attending approved courses of training at institutions visited by him;

•  The adequacy of examinations attended by him; and

•  Any other matters relating to the institution or examinations on which the Council may, either generally or in a particular case, request him to report.

The foregoing and other provisions absolutely erase any doubt that TRCN has power to accredit, monitor, supervise, approve and disapprove the courses and programmes of any teacher training institution. This power is not also peculiar to TRCN. Other professional regulatory bodies such as Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria , Council of Legal Education, etc have the provisions in their respective Acts and exercise the same. For instance, not withstanding the accreditation exercises of the agencies such as the National Universities Commission, National Board for Technical Education, etc. they still independently or collaboratively with the agencies undertake their own accreditation, monitoring and supervision. Their decisions concerning the quality of professional programmes are usually final and respected by the agencies (NUC, NBTE, etc) controlling the institutions. They do not register candidates of programmes they disapprove and it amounts to illegality for such candidates to practice. This is exactly the case of TRCN. However, in appreciation of the very close ties between TRCN and the agencies controlling the teacher training institutions, TRCN will be adopting a most collaborative approach as and when feasible towards the performance of this onerous responsibility

Chapter 4