TRCN: 250 Fake Teacher Certificates Discovered in Nigeria Recruitment

• The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria uncovered 250 fake teacher certificates during a state recruitment exercise.
• TRCN has introduced QR-coded teaching certificates for instant digital verification by employers to combat fraud.
• The Nigerian government has set strict deadlines, requiring 75% of teachers to be licensed by late 2026 and 100% certified by December 2027.
• Digital reforms by the TRCN have led to a significant increase in teacher registration and participation in the Professional Qualifying Examination Nigeria.
• The council emphasizes that teaching competence, including pedagogy and digital literacy, is crucial, not just academic degrees.

The Federal Government has established a firm timeline, requiring 75 percent of educators to be licensed by the close of 2026, with full certification for all teachers mandated before entering any classroom by December 2027.

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) recently identified 250 fake teacher certificates during a recruitment exercise. This significant discovery occurred as an unnamed Nigerian state was in the process of hiring approximately 1,000 educators. Dr. Ronke Soyombo, the Chief Executive and Registrar of TRCN, highlighted that these forged credentials pose a serious risk to the nation's educational standards, emphasizing the council's commitment to removing unqualified individuals from Nigerian classrooms.

Dr. Soyombo shared this information while overseeing the ongoing computer-based Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) at Redeemer’s TEAP International School in Abuja. The incident underscores a broader challenge within the Nigerian education sector, prompting the TRCN to implement more stringent measures to safeguard the integrity of teaching qualifications across the country.

In response to the proliferation of fake teacher certificates, the TRCN has rolled out QR-coded teaching certificates in Nigeria. These new certificates are embedded with Quick Response codes, enabling employers to instantly authenticate credentials by linking directly to the council's official portal before any hiring decisions are made. This initiative is a core component of the TRCN digital verification strategy, designed to prevent fraudulent documents from circulating.

Beyond the new certificate format, the TRCN has also fortified the integrity of its Professional Qualifying Examination Nigeria. The council now employs randomized, qualification-differentiated questions, ensuring that candidates with varying academic backgrounds—such as PhD, first-degree, and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) holders—cannot engage in malpractice even when seated next to each other. Furthermore, the Federal Government has set a strict Nigerian teacher certification deadline, mandating that 75 percent of all teachers must be licensed by the end of 2026, with 100 percent certification required before any individual can enter a classroom by December 2027.

The push for mandatory certification, strongly supported by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, reflects a broader effort to elevate teaching standards. Dr. Soyombo stressed that possessing a first-class degree alone is insufficient for teaching; proven competence in pedagogy, child safeguarding, and digital literacy is also essential. Previous Professional Qualifying Examination assessments had revealed widespread weaknesses in mathematics among teachers nationwide, prompting the TRCN to develop targeted training interventions in collaboration with relevant educational agencies.

These digital reforms have already yielded positive results, with teacher registration numbers significantly increasing from 13,000 in May 2025 to 26,000 by November 2025. Currently, 21,000 candidates are participating in the 2026 examination across the country, with results expected to be delivered digitally within one week. The council remains committed to its digital clampdown on malpractice, aiming to protect Nigerian schoolchildren and enhance the overall quality of teaching.

Candidates who recently sat for the computer-based Professional Qualifying Examination Nigeria generally described the process as well-coordinated. Ms. Celestina Adejo, one of the candidates, noted that the questions enhanced her understanding of child safeguarding and ICT security. Other participants, including Ebi Mustapha, a Nigerian Navy education officer, and Esther Ali, a teacher with 27 years of experience, took the examination to validate their professional competence and encouraged other practitioners to pursue certification.

While the examination process was largely smooth, one candidate, Benjamin Edet, suggested that examination slips should directly display assigned centers and schedules to eliminate delays often associated with relying on WhatsApp groups and external links. To ensure uninterrupted testing, Mrs. Ann Ogbu, the CBT Coordinator and ICT Administrator at the Redeemer’s TEAP International School, confirmed that the facility had deployed a 60kVA solar system, a 250kVA backup generator, and 20 standby computers out of its 220 systems. The Garki-based center is also expanding its capacity to 320 computers, having conducted successful demonstration tests with the TRCN’s technical team to guarantee seamless operations.

Lawyers advising educational institutions or recruitment agencies in Nigeria must be aware of the TRCN's new QR-coded certificate verification system and the strict deadlines for teacher certification (2026/2027) to ensure compliance and mitigate risks associated with employing uncertified or fraudulently credentialed teachers.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH